FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Emily Arasim
Communications Coordinator
Women’s Earth & Climate Action Network
+1 (505) 920-0153
emily@wecaninternational.org
COP21 Mobilization Plans Announced by the Women’s Earth and Climate Action
Network
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., October 22, 2015 – This December 2015 world governments will gather
in Paris, France for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
COP21 climate negotiations, where they will work to finalize an international climate agreement
with profound implications for our global trajectory and the health of people and planet.
The Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN International) will be on the ground in
Paris during COP21 climate negotiations, standing for action plans and policies that are in line
with the magnitude of the global climate crisis, and which foster justice for women, the Earth,
and all of its peoples.
The organization will advocate for climate justice and women’s leadership inside COP21 as part
of the Women and Gender Constituency, and will lead and participate in diverse civil society
events and direct actions outside of the formal negotiation process.
On Monday December 7th, WECAN International will present ‘Women Leading Solutions on the
Frontlines of Climate Change – Paris’, an extraordinary afternoon and evening with worldwide
women leaders joined in solidarity to speak out against environmental and social injustice, draw
attention to root causes of the climate crisis, and present the diverse array of visions and
strategies with which they are working to shape a healthy and equitable world.
‘Women Leading Solutions’ will be held from 1:00 – 6:30 pm at the Paris Marriott Opera
Ambassador Hotel, 16 Boulevard Haussmann 75009 Paris.
On December 4th and 5th, WECAN will participate in the International Rights of Nature Tribunal, a
gathering of internationally renowned lawyers and leaders for planetary justice, who will hear
cases addressing issues such as climate change, GMOs, fracking, extractive industries and other
environmental violations. The Tribunal, presented by the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature,
will offer judgments and recommendations for the Earth’s protection and restoration based on
the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth.
WECAN International serves on the Steering Committee for the Global Alliance for the Rights of
Nature and WECAN's Executive Director, Osprey Orielle Lake, will serve as the lead tribunal
judge for the climate change case.
As part of COP21 advocacy work, WECAN International will share and mobilize for action as laid
out in the Women’s Climate Action Agenda, and will present the Women’s Climate Declaration
and signatures directly to world governments. An aggregate of over 10 million signatures have
been collected thus far as part of the Movement to Action Campaign.
“The window of opportunity for acting on climate change will not be open for long – making this
likely the most critical climate negotiations of our times,” explained Osprey Orielle Lake, coFounder and Executive Director of WECAN International, “Across the globe, women are facing
the effects of a changing climate on a daily basis, and are risking their lives in defense of their
communities and the Earth – however their voices have been repeatedly excluded from
international climate policy making. During COP21 this December, WECAN International and
allies will be mobilizing ceaselessly to raise up women’s experiences and insights, expose false
climate solutions, and demonstrate to world governments that the time has come to listen to
women’s calls for climate justice.”
‘Women Leading Solutions on the Frontlines of Climate Change- Paris’ and the International
Rights of Nature Tribunal are free and open to the public. Details and registration information
are available at:wecaninternational.org/pages/wecan-cop21
-# # #About The Women's Earth & Climate Action Network (WECAN International)
www.wecaninternational.org
@WECAN_INTL
The Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN International) is a solutions-based,
multi-faceted effort established to engage women worldwide as powerful stakeholders in climate
change, climate justice, and sustainability solutions. Recent work includes the 2013
International Women’s Earth and Climate Summit, Women’s Climate Declaration, and
WECAN Women’s Climate Action Agenda. International climate advocacy is complemented with
on-the-ground programs such as the Women’s for Forests and Fossil Fuel/Mining/Mega Dam
Resistance, US Women’s Climate Justice Initiative, and Regional Climate Solutions Trainings in
the Middle East North Africa region, Latin America, and Democratic Republic of Congo. WECAN
International was founded in 2013 as a project of the 501(c)3Women’s Earth and Climate
Caucus (WECC) organization and its partner eraGlobal Alliance.