MEG Student Winner of the Climate Law and Governance Initiative (CLGI) Essay Competition

Essay Highlights

Sandra's poetic essay challenges the status quo within climate change agendas by addressing gender inequalities, particularly those faced by indigenous women in the Amazon rainforest. Her work critically examines the failure of the climate change regime to integrate the unique claims, needs, and perspectives of indigenous women, highlighting the blind spot that exists concerning the intersections between gender and ethnicity.

In her essay, Sandra argues that the gender approach within environmental governance has been instrumentalized, depoliticized, and turned into a technocratic exercise, ultimately failing to address the root causes of gender inequalities associated with environmental degradation in the Amazon rainforest. Drawing on a feminist political ecology perspective (FEP) and critical discourse analysis, Sandra navigates the discursive practices within the UNFCCC process, unraveling the gendered power relationships embedded in environmental discourses.

The essay identifies tensions arising from diverse ontologies and discursive practices in environmental governance scenarios. Sandra concludes by presenting the ways in which indigenous women contest environmental politics realms—through collective action, political organization, and self-organized political scenarios, challenging the dominant narratives.

Sandra's Reflections on Winning

Upon winning the competition, Sandra shared these insightful words: "Consequently, this award serves as an opportunity for me to honor and amplify their voices, concerns, and current struggles within the global environmental policies regime. Additionally, it allows me to contribute to both academic and political discussions surrounding the leadership of Indigenous Women within the global discourse of climate change and sustainability, as well as their pivotal role in the pursuit of Climate Justice in the Global South.

Finally, in recognizing this responsibility, I am reminded of the duty that we have as researchers in echoing the voices of grassroots organizations and continuing to forge paths for decolonizing the academy, fostering dialogues south-south, and persistently raising our voices to challenge the dominant narratives within the Climate Change regime."

Celebrating Sandra's Success

Winning the essay is a microcosm of Sandra's passion and in-depth knowledge on topics of environmental governance and power dynamics, especially in the context of indigenous and rural rights and inclusion. Testimonials from her colleagues in class highlight her in-depth contributions to class discussions, showcasing Sandra's dedication to exploring the complexities of environmental issues and indigenous rights.

Sandra Angel's triumph in the Global Climate Law and Governance Student Essay Competition is a celebration of her academic excellence and a testament to the impactful research conducted within our MEG program. Her work not only contributes to the academic discourse but also sheds light on crucial issues within global environmental governance.

Please join us in congratulating Sandra P. Angel Moreno for her outstanding achievement and for bringing attention to the indispensable leadership of indigenous women in shaping the environmental future of the Amazon rainforest.

Kobby

Editor, MEG Program Blog