Clinton calls out some delegations at COP28 for not having enough women

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called out some delegations at the COP28 climate summit on Sunday for not having enough women.

Clinton at an Atlantic Council event spoke about how policymakers could empower women to become involved in climate change discussions. She said that there has been a rollback of women’s rights opportunities in numerous countries, leading to fewer women in decision-making positions. 

“It’s not only that we have to do more to make sure women’s voices are heard, we have to be conscious of the fact that we’re now sort of swimming against a tide that has turned against women in many parts of the world,” Clinton said.

“And, you know, in many of the governments that are here represented at COP, there are some governments that have no women and some governments with very few women,” she continued. “And so how do we get the concerns of women particularly when it comes to climate to be heard, and that’s, you know, what events like this are about.”

Clinton emphasized in her remarks that women’s livelihoods and work is often an “afterthought” for policymakers. As a result, she said it’s become a “necessity” for organizations to lift up women’s voices to ensure women have a seat at the table.

She said to get women’s concerns heard, more women need to be involved in every step in the decision-making processes, people need to find solidarity with organizations elevating women’s voices in the climate crisis and that it should be placed on every policymaker’s political agenda.

She noted that women are more likely than men to be negatively affected by the climate crisis.

“Whatever the climate change is, it’s going to impact whether it’s increasing climate shocks, weather patterns, storms, droughts, heat,” she said. “They’re going to impact women and children more dramatically, everywhere. So I think there’s just we need to see it as a political movement that we are all part of.”