At a virtual event parallel to the UNPFII, Indigenous women leaders from North America highlighted their critical role in defending biodiversity, human rights, and the global climate. They advocated for Indigenous rights, sovereignty, and Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).

Speakers urged global governments and financial institutions to respect Indigenous knowledge, ways of life, and the right to say "no" to continued extraction. They stressed that this is paramount for addressing climate and environmental crises, presenting solutions grounded in Indigenous expertise for protecting communities and Mother Earth.

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This virtual event, a formal side event of Escazú COP2 in 2023, convened women environmental and human rights defenders, policymakers, and feminist advocates.

Participants highlighted the challenges women face in securing human and Indigenous rights, accessing information, public participation, and justice, and protecting their lands and communities. They also explored opportunities presented by the Escazú Agreement.

On Earth Day 2023, WECAN is releasing a new video. It highlights global women leaders advocating against extraction and deforestation.

These leaders champion Indigenous and human rights, promoting vital community-led climate solutions.

The "Women for Climate Justice Leading Protection of Water" event, a formal side event of the UN Water Conference in New York City, addressed climate change impacts on global water. Grassroots leaders, water protectors, and international policy experts shared solutions and strategies for protecting aquatic ecosystems within a climate justice framework.

WECAN submitted a commitment and released a Call to Action, urging governments to improve water protection through a rights-based approach and by ensuring women's leadership. Read the Call to Action here. Additional event links and resources are available here.

The virtual event, "Global Voices and Women-Led Calls to Action in Response to COP28," took place on Sunday, December 10, 2023. During COP28, WECAN hosted this series to amplify the diverse voices of women leaders worldwide.

Throughout the conversation, women on the ground at COP28 reported on negotiations, shared highlights, released reports, and presented global women's calls to action and demands.

At COP28 on December 2, 2023, WECAN hosted a press conference featuring Indigenous women leaders from the Amazon. They powerfully advocated for urgent action to protect Indigenous rights, biodiversity, and the global climate.

These women mobilized to safeguard Amazonian forests, water, and communities. Speakers, including Célia Xakriabá and Fany Kuiru Castro, delivered powerful calls for advocacy and immediate protective measures.

During COP28, WECAN amplified the voices of diverse women leaders globally. On December 10, 2023, a press conference titled "Women for Climate Justice Leading Solutions" highlighted their critical perspectives.

At this event, international women leaders discussed the impacts of climate policies and stressed the urgent need for transformative strategies to address the climate crisis and advance a just transition. Prominent speakers included Indigenous rights activists, youth climate advocates, and environmental ambassadors, sharing vital solutions.

WECAN concluded its Climate Week advocacy with "How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis." Movement leaders and change-makers, including Casey Camp Horinek, Helena Gualinga, and Jacqui Patterson, shared stories and worldviews demonstrating a healthy, equitable world is possible.

Osprey Orielle Lake, WECAN's Executive Director, also previewed her forthcoming book, "The Story is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis," set for release in January 2024. Learn more about the book here.

WECAN hosted a press conference at COP28 on December 6, 2023, titled "Rights of Nature: A Systemic Solution to the Climate Crisis." This event showcased the powerful voices of diverse women leaders from around the world.

The "Rights of Nature" framework promotes a new legal and economic system for living in balance with Earth. Presenters shared successful applications of this movement, demonstrating its potential to defend biodiversity, communities, and our climate.

Speakers included Nnimmo Bassey (Health of Mother Earth Foundation), Casey Camp Horinek (Ponca Nation Environmental Ambassador, WECAN Board Member), and Osprey Orielle Lake (WECAN Executive Director, Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature).

At COP28 on December 2, 2023, WECAN and the Feminist Green New Deal (FemGND) Coalition co-hosted a press conference titled "Accelerating Feminist Solutions to the Climate Crisis." This event showcased diverse women leaders globally, with WECAN being a founding member of the FemGND Coalition.

Speakers at the conference addressed the climate crisis's root causes, advocating for feminist principles within a Just Transition. They presented feminist policies and frameworks essential for advancing equitable climate solutions, focusing on the United States with global implications. Prominent voices included Tzeporah Berman, Mitzi Jonelle Tan, Eriel Tchekwie Deranger, and Osprey Orielle Lake.

During COP28, WECAN hosted a series of events highlighting the powerful and diverse voices of women leaders from around the world. A key event, "Women Leading Fossil Fuel Phaseout and A Just Transition," was a press conference held on Saturday, December 9, 2023.

At this conference, women leaders presented vital reports and critical strategies to advance a fossil fuel phaseout and accelerate a Just Transition. Their discussions emphasized supporting communities and ecosystems impacted by extractive industries and addressing human and Indigenous rights violations.

Speakers included Tzeporah Berman (Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty), Mitzi Jonelle Tan (Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines), Eriel Tchekwie Deranger (Indigenous Climate Action), and Osprey Orielle Lake (Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network).

During the UN Climate Ambition Summit on September 20, WECAN hosted an event where women leaders called on governments to halt fossil fuel extraction. They urged investment in a Just Transition, grounded in climate justice, care economies, and Indigenous rights, rather than business as usual.

The event featured two panels. The first, "Women Ending the Era of Fossil Fuels," discussed transitioning away from extraction and policy advocacy. The second, "Women-led Climate Solutions Are Central to a Just Transition and Thriving Future," showcased successful community-led climate solutions.

Global women leaders recently convened to spotlight alternative economic models for people, planet, and a just transition. They emphasized community-led solutions, feminist economics, Indigenous knowledge, and ancient concepts of reciprocity with Earth.

Discussions covered land rematriation, the care economy, post-growth, and Buen Vivir. These emerging, socially just, and ecologically enhancing models offer a path forward for a caring global economy.

Speakers included Monique Verdin (Houma Nation), Nati Greene (Global Alliance for Rights of Nature), Rhiana Gunn-Wright (Roosevelt Institute), Sandrine Dixson-Declève (The Club of Rome), and Margaret Kwateng (Grassroots Global Justice Alliance), with moderation by Osprey Orielle Lake (WECAN).

On Earth Day, WECAN launched a new resource: the "Escazú Agreement Toolkit for Women Land Defenders and Frontline Communities." This toolkit empowers women in the LAC region to utilize national laws for the protections offered by the Escazú Agreement.

Supporting women land defenders globally is vital for environmental justice. Access the English toolkit here and the Spanish toolkit here.

A recent convergence united diverse global women leaders to strategize solutions for an equitable and Just Transition—including food sovereignty, gender-responsive climate policies, regenerative economics, Indigenous rights, and phasing out fossil fuels.

We extend our gratitude to the many amazing speakers, such as President Whitney Gravelle, Mitzi Jonelle Tan, Neema Namadamu, Tzeporah Berman, Ruth Nyambura, Dr. Crystal A Cavalier, Dipti Bhatnagar, Dr. Tammy Greer, and Osprey Orielle Lake, who shared their expertise from various regions and fields.

On March 13, WECAN and the Indigenous Women's Treaty Alliance petitioned the Army Corps of Engineers in Washington D.C. They demanded a robust environmental review of the proposed Line 5 crude oil pipeline reroute.

Enbridge's Line 5 operates illegally, threatening sacred ecosystems, clean water, treaty territories, and the global climate. Despite opposition, Enbridge plans a reroute and expansion. Activists insist Line 5 must be shut down and decommissioned, not merely rerouted.

The Indigenous Women's Treaty Alliance, supported by WECAN, Sierra Club, and community allies, delivered the petition. WECAN has facilitated the Alliance, comprising Great Lakes Indigenous women leaders, since 2022.

On International Women's Day 2024, WECAN is releasing a new video. It highlights global women leaders advocating for an end to the fossil fuel era and advancing a Just Transition.

These leaders champion climate solutions, Indigenous and human rights, rights of nature, and thriving communities and planet.

Enbridge's Line 5 pipeline, operating 20 years beyond its engineered lifespan, threatens 20% of the world's surface freshwater in the Great Lakes, along with sacred ecosystems, drinking water, and treaty territories. Indigenous women, tribal leaders, and allies are demanding its immediate shutdown and decommissioning.

Despite strong opposition, Enbridge proposes expanding and re-routing Line 5. This new route would devastate hundreds of waterways, including those vital to the Bad River Reservation, Lake Superior, and the Straits of Mackinac. It is imperative to stop this expansion and all fossil fuel projects now.

Learn more about WECAN's campaign to stop Line 5: wecaninternational.org/stop-line-5

"How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis" was a fundraiser for Sogorea Te' Land Trust and launched Osprey Orielle Lake's book, "The Story is in Our Bones." The event gathered movement leaders to address humanity's critical choice point: transforming dominant worldviews, which fuel social and ecological crises, into a paradigm of respect, restoration, and justice for an equitable world.

Speakers shared powerful stories demonstrating a possible world, urging solidarity and action. All book proceeds supported Sogorea Te' Land Trust, an Indigenous women-led organization returning land to Indigenous people. Learn more: Book: ospreyoriellelake.earth, Land Trust: sogoreate-landtrust.org, WECAN: wecaninternational.org.

On December 5, WECAN hosted a UN Side Event at COP28, titled "Women Implementing Climate Justice Solutions to Mitigate and Adapt to the Climate Crisis." Grassroots, Indigenous, and frontline women, along with global organization representatives, presented diverse climate justice strategies, including forest protection, Indigenous rights, agro-ecology, and a Just Transition.

The event featured powerful testimonies from diverse women leaders. A special appearance by Sonia Guajajara, Brazil's Minister of Indigenous Peoples, underscored the vital role of women's leadership globally. WECAN is honored to continue its long-standing collaboration with Minister Guajajara.