Wizarding World Alumnae Among Women Signing Open Letter to Climate Change Conference Leaders
Some alumnae of the Wizarding World franchise are among the signatories of an open letter from over 400 women to the leaders of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) regarding climate change and the lack of female representation in the conference’s leadership. Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), Dame Emma Thompson (Professor Trelawney), and Alison Sudol (Queenie Goldstein, Fantastic Beasts) have all signed the letter from SHE Changes Climate. The letter itself is addressed to Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson and the COP26 leadership team. COP26 will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, in November 2021.
The full text of the letter is available from SHE Changes Climate, and its signatories include women “from all spheres, politics, science, environment, diversity, business, arts.” The letter makes three specific demands:
1. A balanced representation of men and women at the high-level team for COP26. Embrace women’s equal participation and support gender equality (GAP). COP26 approach is transparent and accountable.
2. Show global leadership by ensuring the UK’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution includes a gender analysis and commitment to tackling gender inequality via action on reducing emissions.
3. Ensure climate finance is gender inclusive (developing minimum standards) to increase accessibility to finance for women-led and women’s rights organisations addressing climate change impacts on the front line.
The letter also spells out some of the ways women and girls face greater inequities amid climate change.
The evidence is clear that women and girls are more vulnerable to climate change impacts. Women and girls more often face the brunt of climate[-]related disasters than men. They are the ‘shock absorbers’ of climate change: impacts disproportionately hit their livelihoods and food security, drive up levels of the violence they experience, and hold them back from engaging in education and the green economy.
None of the three Wizarding World actresses are strangers to calling for social change and climate action. Watson frequently advocates for feminist causes and was named a member of the board of directors of Kering earlier this year, with a focus on sustainable fashion. Thompson has described climate change as “a feminist issue” in an interview with the British edition of Vogue magazine and has backed an open letter from Greta Thunberg. Sudol has also spoken out about the need to fight climate change, including through her involvement in the BBC short film The Promise.
For more information on SHE Changes Climate, you can visit its website. How are you working to fight against climate change?
