The Academic Network for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Policy (ANSER) has developed a policy statement on the impact of climate change on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA). This statement is designed to support UNFPA country representatives in advocating for the inclusion of SRHR in their governments’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

The statement highlights the growing evidence that climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, particularly women and girls, by exacerbating barriers to SRHR services. It calls for urgent action to integrate SRHR into climate policies, ensuring that climate adaptation and mitigation strategies address the specific health and rights needs of communities in the EECA region.

To amplify this message, ANSER’s director Prof. Olivier Degomme presented the statement in a video for the UNFPA event at COP29, the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November 2024.

This contribution underscores ANSER’s commitment to bridging research and policy, ensuring that evidence-based recommendations inform global climate negotiations. By working closely with UNFPA and other stakeholders, ANSER aims to strengthen the recognition of SRHR as a key component of climate resilience, advocating for policies that protect and promote health and rights in a changing climate.

You can watch the video here.