Samira Bawumia rallies global support for gender-inclusive climate action
Speaking at the Climate Justice Conference organised by the Eco-Africa Network at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) on 2 April, Mrs Bawumia described climate change as a human and social justice issue, not merely an environmental challenge
Former Second Lady, Samira Bawumia, has made a passionate appeal for global climate action to place women and children at the centre of policy and financing decisions, warning that the most vulnerable continue to suffer the worst consequences of a crisis they did little to create.
Speaking at the Climate Justice Conference organised by the Eco-Africa Network at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) on 2 April, Mrs Bawumia described climate change as a human and social justice issue, not merely an environmental challenge.
“Climate justice,” she said, “asks us a critical question: who bears the greatest burden of a crisis they did little to cause?” Her answer: women and children in developing countries, particularly in Africa.
Drawing on figures from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, she noted that 3.6 billion people now live in areas highly vulnerable to climate change, yet the poorest half of the global population contributes just 10% of emissions. By contrast, the wealthiest 10% are responsible for nearly half.
Africa, home to 17% of the world’s people, accounts for less than 4% of global carbon emissions, but continues to face some of the most severe climate impacts, including droughts, floods, hunger, and displacement.
Samira Bawumia warned that climate injustice is neither gender- nor age-neutral, with women and children being disproportionately affected. She cited examples from rural communities where women spend hours fetching water and collecting firewood—time that could be used for education or income-generating activities.
“Three billion people still rely on solid fuels like wood and charcoal for cooking,” she said, referencing World Health Organization data. “This results in over 3.2 million premature deaths annually, with women and children accounting for more than 60%.”
The Second Lady, who also serves as Global Champion for the Clean Cooking Alliance, highlighted clean cooking solutions as a critical yet overlooked climate and health intervention. Transitioning to such technologies, she argued, could save lives, cut emissions, and boost women’s empowerment.
She further expressed concern that less than 1% of global clean energy financing reached women-led organisations in 2023, and only 2% was allocated to projects targeting gender equality. Meanwhile, 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa still live without electricity.
“We must make clean energy access a human right—not a privilege,” she stressed.
Through her work with the Africa Women and Children Conference (AFRIWOCC), Mrs Bawumia said efforts are underway to amplify African voices—particularly youth and women—in the global climate conversation.
She called for gender-responsive policies, inclusive climate financing, and skills development for Africa’s growing youth population, warning that without investment in green skills, the continent’s demographic advantage could become a missed opportunity.
“There can be no climate justice without social justice,” she said, urging multilateral commitment, private sector innovation, and grassroots leadership.
“The climate crisis does not respect borders, and neither must our solidarity,” she added.
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