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Petro-patriarchy and the pope: Saudis, Vatican lead women’s rights backlash at COP29

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By illuminem briefings

· 2 min read


illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on POLITICO or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: COP29 negotiations in Baku face gridlock as Saudi Arabia, the Vatican, Russia, and Egypt block progress on integrating gender equality into climate policy discussions
The European Union protested by walking out of the talks amid fears of regression on prior commitments

🔭 The context: Women and girls disproportionately bear the impacts of climate change, with 80% of displaced persons being female, according to the U.N.
Efforts like the Lima work program aim to ensure gender considerations in climate policies but are at risk of termination without consensus
Disputes over terminology, like "gender" versus "sex," and broader human rights concerns are derailing the talks
• Contrary to what was reported by Politico, the Vatican still has increasingly emphasized the moral imperative of addressing climate change and vulnerable populations, including women and girls.

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Climate change exacerbates existing gender inequalities, such as increasing forced marriages and health risks during pregnancy
A failure to prioritize gender equality undermines comprehensive and just climate action, stalling progress on global ESG goals

⏭️ What's next: If the Lima work program cannot be renewed at COP29, its goals may hinge on negotiations at COP30 in Brazil
The deadlock also threatens wider discussions on integrating human rights into climate finance and policy

💬 One quote: “These [countries] are trying to backtrack on existing language. They’re doing everything to derail the process,” - a Western negotiator

📈 One stat: 80% of people displaced by global warming are women and girls (U.N. estimate)

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