The Ministers for Environment for Uganda, Benin, and Fiji as well as government officials from various countries, representatives from NGOs and UN agencies attended the launch.

In a gathering that was attended by nearly 100 participants each presenter from the founding organizations called for a more concerted approach towards integrating gender concerns into the strategies for addressing climate change. The message that was sent out is that climate change affects us all, but the impacts are felt differently depending on factors such as gender, class, poverty, age or social status. Again the experiences of the north are different from those in the south. These differences have resulted in different gender perspectives that inform the adopted strategies. However, these differences are crucial in bridging the gap in understanding the inextricable link between gender and climate change and the importance of integrating gender equality and equity principles at all stages of developing strategies and policies on addressing climate change. Again the presenters called for a change in consumption patterns as well as everyone taking responsibility in addressing climate change.

It was however pointed out that for visible integration of gender particularly at decision making at the global and regional levels it is necessary that the actors and stakeholders in the processes of decision making and negotiation are not only gender sensitive but will ensure gender responsive outcomes. Working with the UNFCCC will be very important particularly in engendering the processes that will lead to COP 13 in Copenhagen in 2009.

Each of the four partners founding the alliance have pledged to work together, within the mandates of their organizations so as to ensure that  climate change policies, decision making, initiatives at global, regional national levels are gender responsive.  In calling for more partners to this alliance, the GCCA will undertake to do the following:

1. Provide support to UNFCCC and its bodies to ensure that the UN mandates on gender equality are fully implemented.
2. Ensure that UN financing mechanisms on mitigation and adaptation address the needs of poor women and men equitably.
3. Set standards and criteria for climate change mitigation and adaptation that incorporate gender equality and equity principles
4. Build capacity at global, regional and local level to design and implement gender-responsive climate change policies, strategies and programmes.
5. Establish a network for learning, knowledge exchange, and advocacy on gender and climate change.
   

So far HABITAT, FAO and the EU have expressed an interest in joining the alliance. The co chair of the Network of Women Ministers and leaders for Environment Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi also voiced the Network’s support to the alliance. The GCCA will develop a plan of action for activities that they will undertake during the next two years in preparation for COP in Copenhagen in 2009.