IPPF has just released a new position paper about Climate Crisis and SRHR.
The climate crisis is one of the key challenges of this time. It adversely affects enjoyment of a wide range of human rights, including the realization of SRHR. At the same time, SRHR have an important role to play in strengthening individuals’ and communities’ resilience and capacity to adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis.
A just released IPPF position paper on the topic discusses the intersections between the climate crisis and SRHR, and describes IPPF’s priorities for advocacy and engagement on the issue as a healthcare provider and advocate.
WHAT DOES THE PAPER SAY? The position paper recognizes the grave injustices that underpin the climate crisis. Those least responsible for contributing to it are the ones most severely affected by its impacts. They are also the ones with the least access to resources that will allow them to adapt.
The paper underlines IPPF’s commitment to support communities to adapt to the effects of the climate crisis while calling for inclusive, human rights‑based, and gender‑transformative action to respond to the climate crisis and its impacts at all levels.
Pointing to the critical role of SRHR for individuals’ health and for advancing gender equality and overcoming marginalization, it demands that SRHR form an important consideration in measures aimed at enhancing resilience to both the slow onset impacts of the climate crisis and its more immediate effects. It further commits IPPF to take measures to reduce its own carbon footprint and environmental impacts.
WHO WROTE IT? The position paper was developed in collaboration with the Danish Family Planning Association (DFPA) and with the input of an advisory group of IPPF Secretariat and MA colleagues from across regions, over a period of several months in 2020. It complements the updated IPPF Policy 4.17 on SRHR and the climate crisis, which was approved by the IPPF Board of Trustees in November 2020.
WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE? The position paper is available for download in English, French and Spanish (see here).
If you have any questions regarding the position paper, please contact Raffaela Dattler from the advocacy team at the IPPF London Office at: rdattler@ippf.org.
Picture credits: IPPF/Hannah Maule-Ffinch