Call for drafting: Report on climate change policies in the EU – exploring the role and potential of equality bodies

Equinet is seeking an expert on climate change policies in the EU to develop an Equinet report to the equality dimensions of the EU Green Deal in both content and impact, evaluate the current work of equality bodies relevant to climate change and related challenges, and evaluate the potential of and suggest possible actions for equality bodies for engaging with climate-related issues and for ensuring an equality approach to climate policies, laws and actions.  Apply by 15 June 2022!

Background

As climate change is deeply and rapidly transforming our societies, the climate justice movement is also growing. NGOs representing specific groups, such as women, Roma people, migrants or people from ethnic minorities are underlining that they are already suffering disproportionately from the effects of the climate crisis, and that they will be further affected in the future. This indicates that climate change and responses to climate emergencies is an equality issue. Uncovering the invisible equality components of climate laws and policies will be essential for assessing the role equality bodies can play in ensuring fair and equal climate action. 

A preliminary engagement on this topic from the perspective of equality bodies already took place in 2019 with the release of Equinet’s Perspective “Equality Bodies contributing to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals” and with the participation of Equinet at the UN High Level Political Forum 2019. Nevertheless, a more detailed and targeted examination of the roles and implications of climate laws and policies for equality bodies is both necessary and timely. 

Proposed Research

In this context, Equinet is seeking an expert to produce a report on climate change policies in the EU. The commissioned researcher(s) will be expected to produce an Equinet Report with a view to: 

• Assess the equality dimensions of the EU Green Deal, in terms of content and impact. This assessment could uncover policy and legal blind spots on the link between equality and climate change, as well as opportunities for engagement of equality bodies.  
• Evaluate the current work of equality bodies relevant to climate change and related challenges, such as access to housing and resources, health vulnerabilities, access to transports and socio-economic inequalities, etc.  The list of relevant fields of work for equality bodies on climate change should be derived from the equality assessment of the EU Green Deal.   
• Evaluate the potential of and suggest possible actions for equality bodies for engaging with climate-related issues and for ensuring an equality approach to climate policies, laws and actions.  

Expertise Requirement

The selected expert to be commissioned for this report is expected to demonstrate: 

• A track record of work in the field of equality and human rights  
• Knowledge of the work of national equality bodies and their diversity  
• Knowledge of climate change laws and policies, and of the link between equality and climate change.  
• Publication(s) in the field of EU equality laws and policies  
• Excellent drafting skills in English  

Timeframe

The indicative timeframe (which has been updated since last posting) for the commissioned paper is as follows: 

• 15 June 2022: Deadline for applications to be submitted
• End June: result of the selection process and start of the work
• Mid-December: First draft of the Report presented to the Equinet Secretariat
• Mid-February 2023: Submission of final draft to the Secretariat for Board approval and comments 
• End March: Completion of the work, including an approval by the Board of the final changes

Terms of Reference and Applications

The updated terms of reference can be found here. Proposals, alongside the expert’s CV need to be submitted by 15 June to the attention of Moana Genevey, Policy officer (moana.genevey@equineteurope.org).