Sarah's writing journal

CALL TO ACTION

9/2/07

What action do women want on climate change?

A survey to find out women’s priorities for climate change action has been launched this week by Women’s Environmental Network (WEN) and the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (WI). The results will inform a women’s manifesto on climate change being drawn up by the two organisations, to be presented to politicians this Spring.

The survey is available online at www.wen.org.uk and www.womens-institute.org.uk and click on Have Your Say on Climate Change.
The survey is open to members and non-members of both organisations to complete.

Questions ask about women’s own responses to climate change and what they want politicians to do.

Sue Buckingham, Chair of WEN said: “We want to hear from as many women as possible, to tell the government what would be most effective in helping women become fully involved in reducing their own and the UK’s carbon footprint. Climate change affects us all but so far women haven’t been equally involved in the debate and decisions about how to respond.”

Climate change is widely recognised as the greatest environmental threat the world faces. Yet it affects women and men differently - more women die in climate induced disasters than men and women are more likely to suffer the long term consequences because of their different positions and roles in many societies around the world. Women are less likely to be in scientific or technical jobs involved in developing solutions, or in decision-making positions in company boardrooms or in politics.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Jean Leston at comms@wen.org.uk or 020 7481 9004.