WI calls for women to have greater role in tackling climate change

Women must be represented and take part in government decision making on tackling climate change in the run up to the UN Conference in Copenhagen in December, according to the country’s largest voluntary women’s organisation.

The National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) is today launching a post card campaign calling on the Government to ensure that climate change policies take into account the needs of women and recognise the serious effects of climate change on women from developing countries.

Fay Mansell, Chair of the NFWI, said: “Women around the world have an important part to play in tackling climate change. In Britain, simple decisions such as choosing the greenest energy supplier or making the effort to recycle can make a real difference.

“We want the government to do more to develop the potential that women have to tackle climate change in their households and their wider communities. Throughout the summer, WIs around the country will be raising awareness in their local communities, as well as encouraging others to sign up to our postcard petition which we will present to Ed Miliband MP.”

Lucy Siegle, eco journalist and BBC One Show reporter, will chair a Question Time style debate on these issues at 11am in Westminster today with Joan Ruddock MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and representatives from the WI, Oxfam and Good Energy. The audience will include environmental experts and a range of NGOs including the National Trust, Involve, Tearfund, Together, Women’s Environmental Network, WWF, People and Planet, UK Youth Climate Coalition, Energy Saving Trust, and Low Carbon Communities.