COP18: Highlighting the links between reproductive health issues and climate change

COP18: Highlighting the links between reproductive health issues and climate change

COP18 (27/11/12) – Mimi Melles, a Consultant at Advocates for Youth talks about the links between reproductive health and climate change. She says empowering women and young people and increasing the access to sexual and reproductive health services could help communities adapt to climate change.

She warns that 222 million women worldwide still do not have access to family planning and says it is important to increase the education around the connections between this issue and environmental challenges.

She uses the example of the Population, Health and Environment Consortium in Ethiopia that works to bring together young people to implement family planning but also to create awareness of the environment and climate change.

She says UN climate chief Christiana Figueres has responded positively to including these issues in the UNFCCC process and is aiding them to link up with the adaptation committee and the LDC expert group and use these forums to help guide countries.