My Trip to Egypt for COP27

Following COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, IIka Vega, United Women in Faith’s executive for economic and environmental justice, was featured on a special recording of the Faith Talks podcast. Vega shares her perspective on what it was like to attend the climate conference as a Latina, millennial and woman of faith.

“I am thankful to have had an opportunity to attend COP27 and carry the concerns of women, women of faith, women of color, and young people.  

“It was an honor to have met and learned from incredible women advancing climate action such as Marina Silva, environmentalist and former Ministry of the Environment of Brazil; Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland; and young activist and artist Ayisha Siddiqa from Pakistan. Their intergenerational wisdom and commitment to climate justice provides encouragement for me as leader of United Women in Faith’s Just Energy for All campaign, but also inspiration of the role women can play in environmental justice. 

“More specifically, I’m inspired by the commitment and perseverance of women leaders, frontline communities and allied parties in getting an outcome for a loss and damage fund and keep us on track for the agreed 1.5 °C under the Paris Agreement.  

“Certainly, there is still a lot to do to strengthen language on transitioning out of fossil fuels and into green and just energy systems. I am clear that if we want to advance climate action globally, more work must be done here in the U.S. to advance a just energy transition. There is more work for Congress and the administration to promote renewable energy and ensuring the nation contributes its fair share to climate finance.”