Reminding the house that climate change hits women particularly hard as they are the first victims of natural disasters and conflicts over resources, GUE/NGL MEP Kartika Liotard said "ironically, they belong to a category of people who are least responsible for it."

During the debate on women and climate change in the Parliament this morning, she stressed that the proportion of women who participate in new climate strategies is too low although they are more experienced and more expert. "A greater participation of women would create a better climate policy."

"It is clear that more equality is better for the environment and a more stable climate would contribute to greater gender equality," Ms Liotard concluded.

"Climate change is not gender neutral," said Mikael Gustafssson (GUE/NGL, Sweden). Men contribute to a greater extent than women to climate change and men's consumption and lifestyle patterns leave a larger carbon footprint. Women however, consume in a more sustainable way and are more willing to act to preserve the environment, he explained.

"I fully support the report's proposals on specific action quotas to increase women's representation at all levels in decision making and particularly in climate negotiations. The EU and its Member States must do much better in this area."

"When women are involved in climate change work their position in society is often strengthened. This in turn leads to greater democracy and the promotion of human rights!"

GUE/NGL Press Contacts:

Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20   

David Lundy +32 485 50 58 12

gabrielle.kavanagh@europarl.europa.eu  

david.lundy@europarl.europa.eu

European United Left / Nordic Green Left

European Parliamentary Group

www.guengl.eu