W+ Standard Newsletter
December 2021 |
In this photo: Edwin Aalders, Sue Phillips, Jeannette Gurung and David Ungar at COP26 in Glasgow, UK.
Dear Friend of the W+ Standard,

We are pleased to share the W+ Standard newsletter for the months of November-December, 2021. This is an update on W+ Standard activities and other news in the space of gender and climate change at the end of the year 2021, particularly our reflections from COP26. We are also sharing new resources on the topic and relevant information.

As always, if you have any suggestions, comments or questions, please don't hesitate to reach out -we will be happy to hear from you! 
 
Sincerely,
Marialena Vyzaki
W+ Coordinator
UPDATES
W+ Standard Applications
We are excited to announce the first applicant for the VCS/W+ joint certification process. Wildlife Works will also be applying the CCB program as part of this process for this project in Kenya:
  1. Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project (Phase I and Phase II)

Measurement of the two companies supported by the Shell Foundation in Kenya took place in November 2021 and verification is currently underway:
  1. Pula
  2. WaterBus
Reflections from COP26
The WOCAN Team had a very engaging COP26 in Glasgow, UK. Unlike previous years, this COP seemed to have a much stronger focus on gender, beyond just the narrative, to find and fund climate solutions that include and benefit all. The next COP should focus on accountability, to have the pledgers report on the disbursement and impacts of their funding commitments. 
In this photo: Amanda Ellis, Jeannette Gurung, Sue Phillips at COP26 in Glasgow, UK.
Nordic Pavilion: Nordic approaches to support global carbon market cooperation

In this event with the Swedish Energy Agency, Jeannette discussed how new carbon markets can promote gender equality (SDG 5) and the empowerment of women. She referred to the SEA’s use of the W+ Standard in a pilot project to measure both energy emissions reductions and women’s empowerment in the Dominican Republic.


PCCB Focus Area Day | 3rd Capacity-building Hub

Jeannette shared how WOCAN has developed linkages between the gender networks and climate change networks. She discussed how WOCAN uses advocacy, awareness and concrete examples to show the linkages between gender and climate change.


Side Event: A Fair Race to Net-Zero– Scaling fair, inclusive and gender-focused voluntary carbon markets

In a WOCAN side event with the Fair Climate Fund and the Fair Trade Carbon Standard, Jeannette discussed how the W+ Standard- required benefit sharing with community women demonstrates a way to use carbon finance for adaptation and addressing SDG 5 in developing countries.


Momentum Builds at COP26 for Gender Action
WOCAN participated in COP26 and joined the pledges for gender and climate finance.

Canada, Germany, Sweden, UK and USA were among the developed countries that set out gender and climate commitments; while Bolivia, Ecuador and Nigeria also made pledges to promote the leadership of women and girls in the space of climate finance.
Webinar Outputs
WOCAN WEBINAR
Women Climate Entrepreneurs and the Enabling Ecosystem
On October 28, 2021, we had a lively discussion amongst colleagues with a common interest in exploring the potential of climate finance, and carbon markets in particular, as an opportunity for pushing forward on gender equality and women's empowerment. 

Presenters included the following:
  
  • Marialena Vyzaki, Coordinator, W+ Standard
  • Katie Turner, Consultant, ecosystem development, gender/climate nexus, impact investing 
  • Hannah Simmons, Project Developer of REDD+ Project in Brazil, CEO of ERA
  • Sue Phillips, Gender Advisor, Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets
  • Rachel Vestergaard, Founder and CEO, Empower Co. 
  • Chintal Barot, The Rallying Cry
UN-REDD Knowledge Exchange
Gender: The key to unlocking transformational change in climate-forest finance
On October 27, 2021, the W+ Standard participated in a knowledge exchange event aiming to spotlight gender issues and approaches in the evolving climate-forest finance arena, as well as showcase ongoing efforts to mainstream gender inclusion and equality and empower women economically.
 
During the event, Jeannette participated and showcased the W+ Standard, as part of the knowledge exchange and good practice example on how diverse actors – from government ministries to NGOs, and to voluntary carbon market standard bodies – can integrate gender into climate-forest finance to promote the transformative change needed to successfully fight climate change.
Resources
2X Collaborative
The 2X Collaborative launched the Gender and Climate Finance Toolkit. This toolkit aims to enable investors to identify opportunities and mitigate risks in gender and climate finance.
The 2X Collaborative launched 7 sector notes to guide investors in applying a gender lens to the valuation of climate finance in: agriculture, cities, transport, manufacturing, water supply, financial services and energy.
The 2X Collaborative launched 4 thematic notes to guide investors in applying a gender lens to the valuation of climate finance across global themes: climate mitigation, climate adaptation, green jobs and biodiversity.
Events
W+ Standard

Advisory Council Meeting


Our last W+ Standard Advisory Council meeting for 2021 was held on
Monday December 20, 2021 from 17:00 - 18:30 CET.
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