Why We Need to Get Loud About Gender Inequality in Climate Politics

Nov 9, 2021 | Philippa Nuttall
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Last month a female friend and I were quietly having dinner in Brussels when the subject of periods came into the conversation. Immediately the gentleman dining alone next to us slammed down his fork and made a very loud grunt before suggesting our topic of conversation was highly inappropriate. We lowered our voices and moved on to something else. 

I relay this anecdote on gender day (9 November) at the Cop26 climate conference because it is indicative of a much wider problem. We are two women in our mid-40s, for whom the menopause is lurking round the corner, and both have pre-teen daughters who are likely to start their periods any day. That we were discussing the subject was highly appropriate. Yet, after being harrumphed, we felt uncomfortable continuing. 

The reluctance to talk about issues that specifically affect women has serious implications: for individuals and for the fight against climate change. Helen Pankhurst, a women’s rights activist, scholar and writer, was born and raised in Ethiopia, where she now works for NGO Care International. Her ancestors – she is the great-granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst and granddaughter of Sylvia Pankhurst – led the suffragette movement to fight for votes for women. Over a 100 years later, Helen is fighting for women to have access to water, sanitation and hygiene.