Welcome to the first edition of The Oxfam Canada Bulletin!
We’re thrilled to share insights from our experts advancing our advocacy work, emergency response and long-term development programs, and stories from the front lines of advancing women’s and human rights.
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A Message from our Executive Director, Lauren Ravon :
COP29 Wrap-Up
The 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) was held from November 11 to 22 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Instead of stepping up to agree on an ambitious new goal on climate funding, rich countries copped out. They pledged only $300 billion per year for climate action in low-income countries. This is just a fraction of the $1.3 trillion per year that is needed for the global majority living in poorer countries to access renewable energy, adapt to climate change and respond when a climate disaster strikes. What’s worse, this money may only come in loans, which will put these countries into further debt.
Ahead of COP29, Oxfam published a first-of-its-kind study, “Carbon Inequality Kills,” tracking emissions from private jets, yachts, and polluting investments. The report reveals how the super-rich are driving inequality, hunger, and death on a global scale.
Key findings include:
🥂 Billionaires emit more carbon pollution in 90 minutes than the average person does in a lifetime.
🌾 The emissions of the richest 1% have caused crop losses that could have provided enough calories to feed 14.5 million people annually between 1990 and 2023.
🛩 In a single year, the private jets of 23 of the world’s billionaires emitted 2,074 tonnes of carbon — equivalent to 300 years’ worth of carbon emissions for an average person.
Our policy expert, Ian Thomson, explains how this inequality harms the planet.
The Lasting Impact of the Women’s Voice and Leadership Project in Pakistan
Imagine this: young girls riding motorbikes through their towns in rural Pakistan turning heads wherever they go. The "Girls on Wheels" rally was sending a clear message: young women want to claim their rightful space in public life, and they want it now.
The "Girls on Wheels" rally was just one success of the Women’s Voice and Leadership – Pakistan (WVL-Pakistan) project. This five-year, $8 million project, funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), was part of a global initiative supporting local and regional women’s organizations and movements to empower women and girls, protect their rights and achieve gender equality.
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The WVL project in Pakistan focused on 12 women’s rights organizations (WROs) and five alliances, providing them with funding and support to build their skills and improve their effectiveness.
Political instability, extreme climate events, economic downturns, security challenges, and COVID-19 have marked the past five years. Despite these obstacles, women in Pakistan have remained strong, adaptable, and resilient. As this Oxfam project ends, we reflect on the impactful changes it has made.
Breaking the Silence on Gender-Based Violence: Why Canadians Should Care
In Canada, we observe the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, a global movement that calls on everyone to reflect on GBV’s pervasive nature and our shared responsibility to create safer, more equitable spaces. But beyond a time of reflection, we need action, and that’s where Canadians play a vital role.
Canadian donations enable us to support funding, research, and advocacy within life-changing programs worldwide, like WE-Talk in Jamaica, where women are empowered to challenge gender-based norms and take control of their futures. But this issue isn’t limited to other countries. In Canada alone, the Canadian Femicide Observatory reported that, in just one year, 142 women and girls were killed due to gender-based violence. Each statistic is a real story, a family, a community in mourning — these tragedies can and must be prevented.
Roundtable on Progressive Tax Measures
On October 22, Oxfam Canada and Oxfam-Québec convened a dynamic expert roundtable on tax fairness to explore how progressive tax measures can close the growing inequality gap.
Participants included economists, credit unions, members of parliament, government officials, trade unions, and even millionaires, all united by a common goal: advancing a fairer tax system. A well-designed tax system can incentivize responsible economic behavior, generate essential revenue for public services, and reduce economic inequalities.
Key discussions focused on tangible steps to make Canada’s tax system more progressive — such as automatic tax filing, taxing excess corporate profits, cracking down on tax avoidance and evasion, and introducing wealth taxes. The roundtable also explored Canada’s role in advancing global tax reform, ensuring multilateral corporations contribute fairly to a just and sustainable future.
Fair taxation isn’t just about numbers; it’s the cornerstone of funding the social programs Canadians rely on.
As we wrap up 2024, we want to thank you for standing with Oxfam Canada in our efforts to create a fairer, more sustainable, and compassionate world.
Don’t miss out on program updates, thought leadership, and expert insights in 2025. Subscribe to The Oxfam Canada Bulletin today and continue being part of the movement for change.