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Why the European Green Deal Needs Ecofeminism Moving from Gender-Blind to Gender-Transformative Environmental Policies Report

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Why the European Green Deal Needs Ecofeminism Moving from Gender-Blind to Gender-Transformative Environmental Policies Report WHY THE EUROPEAN GREEN DEAL NEEDS ECOFEMINISM Moving from gender-blind to gender-transformative environmental policies Report This report is published by: Date of publication: 16 July 2021 Disclaimer: This report seeks to contribute with critical voices to the public debate and make recommenda- tions around European environmental and climate policies and practices. Not all of the authors and organisa- tions that have contributed to this report work on all topics or areas covered. The different chapters reflect the opinions of the authors (and their organisations where they have contributed on their behalf) and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the publishing organisations or the other contributing organisations. Concept and editorial team: Patrizia Heidegger (EEB), Nadège Lharaig (EEB), Katy Wiese (EEB), Anke Stock (WECF), Rose Heffernan (WECF) With contributions from: Global Women's Network for the Energy Transition Acknowledgments The publishers wish to thank the following colleagues for their feedbacks and support throughout the development of this report: Irene Dankelman (WECF), Gabriele Koehler (WECF), Miriam Müller (WECF), Victoria Chartier (EEB), Bérénice Dupeux (EEB), Isabelle Brachet (ActionAid), Barbara van Paassen (ActionAid), Wadzanai Motsi-Khatai (CIJ), and Marine Uldry (EDF). With support from: This report was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. Cover: © 4-life-2-b; this page: © Annabelle Avril © Ben Gingell CONTENT FOREWORD 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7 INTRODUCTION 11 I CONCEPTS 15 1. The theory behind the analysis: an explanation of our understanding of non-binary intersectional ecofeminism 16 II INCLUSIVE REPRESENTATION FOR STRONGER OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE AND PLANET 23 2. Ensuring inclusive representation in EU (environmental) policymaking 24 3. Nothing about us without us - How the nevironmental movement needs to do better 31 4. We push for a decolonial perspective on climate justice 39 III AN INCLUSIVE AND GENDER-JUST WELLBEING ECONOMY 43 5. A feminist wellbeing economy for all 44 6. Leveraging the green transition to overcome the labour market’s gender segregation 51 7. Integrate gender & intersectional approach into green budgeting & taxation 58 IV MAKING THE EU GLOBAL FOOTPRINT ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE AND GENDER JUST 67 8. The EU’s global trade and investment agenda, environmental pressures and gender equality 68 9. The clothes we wear: From the long shadow of colonialism to gender and environmental justice 76 V CLIMATE 81 10. How the European Green Deal can address gender dimensions of climate policies 82 VI SUSTAINABLE, CARBON-NEUTRAL COMMUNITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURES THAT WORK FOR ALL 91 11. Gender dimensions of the energy transition as an important pillar for successful climate policy 92 12. Combatting energy poverty with gender just policies 100 13. Sustainable and inclusive transport systems 108 14. The role of women as sustainable food producers in rural communities 114 VII IMPLEMENTING GENDERED POLICIES FOR A TOXIC-FREE ENVIRONMENT 121 15. Eliminating hazardous chemicals from our environments 122 16. Fighting menstual precarity, toxic products, risks and waste 128 17. Toxic substances reinforcing racist and sexist norms: a case study of mercury in skin lightening products 136 6 FOREWORD FOREWORD Asmae Ourkiya (They/Them) Ph.D. c / Researcher at Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, Ireland As a non-binary gay person of colour, navigating the world as an environmental activist, researcher, educator and writer has enabled me to explore multiple ecological matters through a gender and social justice lens. From writing on issues revolving around environmental racism, the rise of ecofeminism, queer bodies and ecology, and the gendered impacts of climate change, my approach to such issues have long been a queer, anti-essentialist, alter- globalist,1 ecofeminist one. As a young researcher, I have been faced with the criticism of having a misandric approach to environmentalism, that is, an approach based on contempt for men. However, my message is: queer intersectional ecofeminism is not built on a juxtaposition. Queering and intersectionalising ecological feminism means to no longer blame men and victimise women or to demonise culture and celebrate nature. Although ecofeminism started with essentialist, binary views, it has shifted towards a more inclusive non-binary approach. It problematises patriarchal, capitalist, exploitative, sexist systems and their multiple forms of oppression. Ecofeminism is a transformative, inclusive and activist movement that has landed a strong place in academia and redefined environmentalism by fusing it with an intersectional lens that called for paying equal attention to the impacts of environmental degradation on women, LGBTQ+ people, indigenous people, people with disabilities and other marginalised groups. It analyses oppressive hierarchical systems and examines how they are intertwined. This is what the world needs right now in its state of climate, environmental and pandemic emergency. Climate solutions presented in technological and scientific advancements or the promotion of a low-carbon energy future through the energy transition are only half of the answer. The other half lies in ensuring climate justice through social justice. Through the egalitarian lens of ecofeminism, researchers, activists, educators and decision-makers can, together, draw a path towards a less segregated, more inclusive world where people are treated equally. »The social, political, and economic emancipation of women, racialised communities, LGBTQ+ people, and every other human being that is not a cisgender, white, heterosexual, able-bodied person is crucial to achieving any form of sustainability.« This is crucial now in the upcoming post-pandemic era where COVID-19, an ecological and public health disaster, has clearly shown that humans are facing the same storm, but are beyond any doubt not in the same boat. In Europe, a significant number of environmental policies are gender-blind and lack a deeper analysis of environmental issues as complex socio-political challenges. The European Green Deal is not different. It focuses heavily on technoscientific solutions to problems while beyond these we need socially transformative answers. This report addresses the absence of gendered issues in the European Green Deal policies’ and reflects on what gender-just environmental policy-making can look like. Through the lens of intersectional ecofeminism, it challenges the idea that gender justice can be attained by only increasing women’s participation in decision-making. This work is an example of translating ecofeminism into environmental policies. It adopts an innovative, thought-provoking, intersectional approach to the multiple environmental and social issues it addresses. While masculine norms are “deeply institutionalised in climate institutions; hence, policy-makers adapt their actions to the masculinised institutional environment.”2 this report pushes for truly transformative gender mainstreaming in environmental policy while dismantling systems of oppression. 1 Alterglobalism is a social movement that supports global cooperation and interaction, but oppose the ne- gative effects of economic globalization such as environmental and climate degradation, socioeconomic inequalities, precarious work, conflicts… 2 Gunnhildur Lily Magnusdottir & Annica Kronsell, “The(In)Visibility of Gender in Scandinavian Climate Policy-Making”, International Feminist Journal of Politics, 2015 (accessed June 2021) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In recent years, European environmental and feminist movements have seen increasing support. Ecofeminist theories and practices are regaining attention with women mobilising against nuclear energy, the destruction of nature or for a feminist perspective in urban planning. The European Green Deal as the main policy framework of the current European Commission and the new European Gender Equality Strategy are strong signals that both environmental protection and gender equality are high up on the von der Leyen Commission’s agenda. Even though the Lisbon Treaty declared gender mainstreaming an obligation for policymaking and even though the interlinkages between gender equality and environmental challenges have been demonstrated in Europe and globally, European environmental and gender policies remain largely isolated from each other with very little consideration of gender analysis also in latest policy developments around the transition towards sustainability. This report investigates various aspects of the nexus between gender equality and environmental action in Europe. First, environmental impacts are gendered. For example, men cause on average 8 to 40% more emissions than women, mainly due to their mobility and dietary behaviour.1 Women tend to opt for more sustainable mobility choices and have different travel patterns with shorter and more frequent trips while public transportation services are often modelled upon men’s direct commutes to work. As economic power is still unequally distributed, energy poverty disproportionately affects women, while women led households may have less resources to invest in sustainable solutions. Due to social norms, beauty standards, gendered occupations and biological factors, women are disproportionally affected by chemicals such as those found in cosmetics or cleaning
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