The National Council for Women (NCW) in cooperation with the United Nations Women Egypt, launched a social media campaign showing ways by which women can help in environmental sustainability and climate change.

The campaign delivers several messages about the essential role of women in preserving natural resources and rationalising consumption by resorting to simple ideas that can be applied at all levels, according to a press release issued by the NCW.

The campaign is part of the NCW’s contribution to the activities of the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) currently being held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. The campaign will last until the end of November on social media platforms.

The NCW’s activities in COP27 do not end there. According to Azza Abdel-Hai, head of NCW’s media department, there is the NCW-organised Gender Day on 14 November which will include a number of open dialogue sessions to discuss the role of women in climate issues, policies and implementation mechanisms. There will also be a session on the role of African women in climate change and the means of adaptation, mitigation, and coping.

During Gender Day, the council will celebrate the launch of the African Women’s Initiative and Climate Change Adaptation, in cooperation with the United Nations Organisation for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), with the support of a number of African countries. The NCW’s press release noted that this is the culmination of consultative meetings that took place throughout the past months with African countries.  

The NCW is also participating in holding several side events in COP27’s Green Zone during Gender Day. They include a panel on “Women, Climate Change, and the Voices of Civil Society with the international participation of women leaders who have made vital contributions to decision-making on dealing with climate change. The council is also organising an exhibition for eco-friendly handicraft in a pavilion in the Green Zone made by women from all governorates.

The NCW’s participation in COP27 comes within the framework of a set of programmes and activities to empower women and their participation in decision-making regarding climate change issues. “Women are considered change-makers as they are the most vulnerable to environmental, economic and social shocks resulting from climate change,” the press release said.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 10 November, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.