Members and partners of the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law, and Development (APWLD) decried the exclusion of feminists and grassroots women at the 26th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) held in Glasgow, Scotland.

APWLD Member Triana Wardani lamented that despite being physically present, feminists, grassroots women, and other civil society groups, have remained excluded at the COP26.

“This deliberate exclusion of feminists and grassroots women only reflects the continuing gross neglect of women’s voices amid the worsening climate crisis," Wardani stressed.

The real situation experienced by women from frontline communities in the Global South due to climate change must be conveyed and heard by the world community to prevent false climate solutions and boost action to realize climate justice,” she added.

The exclusion of both grassroots women in developing countries "has robbed them of the opportunity to demand real actions and accountability for false climate solutions that have exacerbated the conditions of women in the Global South," APWLD underscored.

Meanwhile, environmental defenders, climate activists, and grassroots women staged a protest on Sunday in solidarity of the Global Day of Action of Climate Justice.

APWLD member Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) joined the march to demand real carbon emission cuts and just compensation from the top polluter nations and corporations immediately.

Kalikasan PNE Communications Specialist Gia Clarino reminded the public that "people cannot fully rely on COP in addressing the climate crisis, as it has always failed to do so."

Clarino added that it is still through people's efforts that radical system change and true coal- and fuel-phaseout will be achieved.

APWLD is a network of feminist organizations and grassroots activists in the Asia Pacific.