Mary Robinson’s MOTHERS OF INVENTION: Record Breaking Number of Women Join the Battle Against Climate Change at COP24

RECORD BREAKING NUMBER OF WOMEN JOIN THE BATTLE AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE AT COP24

2018 has seen an incredible rise in the number of women involved in battling climate change with the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP24) reporting that this year, for the first time, more than half of the decision-making bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have female representation of 38 per cent or more. There has also been a record number of female delegates elected to the position of Chair or Co-Chair of these bodies, nine out of a possible 28 positions, with 3 UNFCCC bodies achieving full gender equality. This is an important move forward, as climate change has been scientifically proven to affect women proportionately more than men, especially in developing countries.

The year of women in climate change also saw the launch of Mary Robinson’s feminist climate solutions podcast ‘MOTHERS OF INVENTION’, which brought together the former President of Ireland and comedian Maeve Higgins to champion the work being led by women across the world.

The podcast has already attracted over 50,000 new subscribers after just 6 episodes and been praised by climate experts and comedians alike on both sides of the Atlantic. Writer and comedian Sally Phillips said “It made me so proud and at last, hopeful, that if we all jump at once, there might be something we can do about global warming.” The Royal Geographical Society’s magazine say “It’s an unlikely partnership, but in the fight against climate change, the pairing of the first female president of Ireland with a stand-up comedian could be just the answer the world needs.”

Mary Robinson went on to lead the UN Human Rights Commission after serving as the first female President of Ireland. She is a committed climate change crusader and her

Mary Robinson Climate Justice Foundation works to achieve sustainable and people-centered development across the globe. She has just succeeded Kofi Annan to be the first female chair of The Elders, the group of elder statespeople founded by Nelson Mandela.

Talking about her new move into podcasting, Mary said “I was a little bit iffy ­­when I heard “comedian”—you know, as a former president. But after the first 15 minutes together, they said, “This is perfect; this works.” It's a lesson I've learned late in life—it's extraordinarily important to use humor to communicate a really serious point.”

Reflecting on COP24 Mary reiterated that “The situation is potentially catastrophic, but it is doable. People need to take steps in their own lives. They need to get cross if governments are not doing enough."

COP24 delegate, Victoria Barrett, is just one of the incredible women, Mary and Maeve spoke to on the ‘MOTHERS OF INVENTION’ podcast. Barrett is currently one of 21 plaintiffs suing the Trump Administration as they believe that the US government is violating their constitutional rights by supporting the use of the fossil fuels that are the biggest source of climate pollution.

Barrett’s is a great example of just one the remarkable stories Mary and Maeve have explored whilst chewing over the big issues of climate change, allowing listeners the inside track on the corridors of power and introducing us to amazing women all over the world.

Contributors from series one have included women such as: Tara Houska, Native American rights attorney with Honor the Earth; Dr Yvette Abrahams, South African women’s rights advocate; May Boeve, American co-founder of 350.org and Tessa Khan, Australian Bangladeshi climate litigator. You can listen to the complete first series here and stay tuned to find out who will be featured in the next episodes of MOTHERS OF INVENTION In early 2019.

To listen to the trailer, catch up on the series or subscribe to the ‘Mothers of Invention’ Podcast visit the website.

About Mary Robinson
The first female President of Ireland and climate justice campaigner is one of the women leading the global climate movement. She is doing everything she can to raise the voices of other determined women, particularly those on the frontlines of climate change in the global south.

President Barack Obama called her “An advocate for the hungry and the hunted, the forgotten and the ignored, Mary Robinson has not only shone a light on human suffering, but illuminated a better future for our world.”

About Maeve Higgins
A comedy star in her native Ireland, Maeve has performed all over the world. Now living in New York, she co-hosts Neil deGrasse Tyson’s StarTalk on National Geographic and has appeared in Comedy Central’s Inside Amy Schumer. Her immigration podcast ‘Maeve in America’ launched in 2016. She is an opinion writer for The New York Times and her latest book of essays ‘Maeve in America’ is published this August.

About MOTHERS OF INVENTION
Mothers of Invention is a podcast about the women driving powerful solutions to climate change. Hosted by Mary Robinson and Maeve Higgins. There are 6 story-led episodes in series 1, each with an establishing opening segment then a thematic focus covering: Food, Plastic, Health, Litigation and Divestment. Each episode opens with Maeve and Mary conversing, digging into the theme, and then opening into interviews with that episode’s Mother of Invention.

Contributors to Series 1 include: Tara Houska, Native American rights attorney with Honor the Earth; Dr Yvette Abrahams, South African women’s rights advocate; May Boeve, American cofounder of 350.org and Tessa Khan, Australian Bangladeshi climate litigator among others. Full bio list available on request for all contributors.

@MothersInvent

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We receive major funding from the Ford Foundation and Bertha Foundations and are partnered with the BFI, the BBC and Sundance.

We bring people together to unleash the transformational power of documentary film. We stand in solidarity with filmmakers and work to unite them with new friends and allies, building new models globally. We aim to innovate, share and innovate again.

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