Jakarta – Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia held a focused discussion on September 12, 2025, in Jakarta as part of efforts to respond to the implementation of the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30), which will take place in Belém, Brazil, from November 10-21, 2025. This discussion aimed to formulate strategies for mainstreaming Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) so that it is not merely a supplementary issue, but integrated into the entire decision-making process and implementation of global climate actions.
Several women’s organizations and civil society groups attended the meeting, including the Indonesian Women’s Coalition (KPI), Women’s Solidarity (SP), the Indonesian Association of Women with Disabilities (HWDI), and the PEKKA Union Federation. The discussion was led by the Head of Research and Advocacy Division at PWYP Indonesia, Mouna Wasef, featuring keynote speakers KPI Secretary General Mikewati Vera Tangka and Energy and Climate Legal Assistant from the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL), Saffanah Azzahra Adrian.
Mouna explained that the discussion focused on mapping strategies to promote the mainstreaming of GEDSI in COP30, including sharing experiences from participants who had attended previous COP meetings. This included understanding decision-making mechanisms in international forums, opportunities to voice inclusive issues, and tactics to ensure GEDSI is included in negotiation agendas and official conference outcome documents.
Mike highlighted that GEDSI issues in COP meetings have been fluctuating. Based on her observations, gender and inclusion problems intensified at COP26, partly due to the formation of a special working group and the increased representation of women, including around 40 female heads of state in attendance. However, in subsequent COPs, attention to these issues declined again. She assessed that COP30 is a critical moment to revive the mainstreaming of GEDSI, primarily since Brazil is known for its strong focus on gender equality. Mike reminded that the effectiveness of global climate actions will not be achieved without a gender-inclusive framework.
Meanwhile, Saffanah Azzahra explained that space for civil society organizations (CSOs) in COP is actually open. However, access to the main sessions is still limited to official delegations from each country. According to her, the most effective strategy to promote GEDSI issues is through submitting position papers to national delegations, as formal advocacy channels in international forums remain under government authority. She emphasized the importance of early interventions before departure, so that GEDSI perspectives are already incorporated into Indonesia’s negotiation documents and positions.
The speakers also emphasized that GEDSI advocacy efforts leading up to COP30 require effective communication strategies, particularly with the media. Identifying Indonesian media outlets that will cover COP30 in Brazil is necessary to ensure that reporting on gender, disability, and inclusion issues gains prominence in the national public space. In addition, coordination with the RI delegation representatives needs to be strengthened so that inputs from civil society can be effectively conveyed during the negotiation process in Belém.
Recent developments show that the COP30 organizers in Brazil have explicitly positioned gender and inclusion issues as an essential part of the climate action agenda. Through the COP30 Action Agenda, gender perspectives are integrated into every stage of climate crisis management, from mitigation and adaptation to post-disaster recovery. One prominent initiative is the development of the Protocol for Supporting Women in Climate Emergencies and Disasters, which emphasizes protection for women in disaster situations, economic empowerment, and redistribution of domestic workloads.
In addition, the Brazilian government is also striving to introduce social diversity criteria, including gender and race, as part of global sustainable investment standards. This idea aligns with the concept of mutirão, which is collective mutual assistance that serves as Brazil’s national philosophy and is now proposed as a global action framework to strengthen the role of local communities and vulnerable groups in a just green transition.
In this context, GEDSI advocacy strategies from Indonesia become increasingly crucial. PWYP Indonesia, together with civil society networks, will prepare a special GEDSI policy brief to be submitted to the RI delegation heading to COP30. With the growing global attention to social inclusion in climate policies, the momentum of COP30 is expected to be a turning point for Indonesia to strengthen its commitment to gender, disability, and social justice in its climate diplomacy.
Writer: Mouna Wasef