Gender mainstreaming in climate action and policy: Milestones and remaining challenges
In recent years, and within the context of the UNFCCC negotiations and policies, gender mainstreaming has gained traction in the light of collective mobilizations, public awareness and knowledge-sharing campaigns of gender experts and activists, practitioners and women’s rights organizations. Rigorous gender-related decisions by the Conference of Parties (COP) have underscored the importance of mainstreaming gender dimensions in climate policy and action at the international and national levels. At institutional level, there are key initiatives that advocate for gender mainstreaming in climate mitigation and adaptation policies and endeavors. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) began recognizing the link between gender and climate in 2001 with Decision 36/CP.7 At COP25, the 5-year enhanced Lima work program on gender and its gender action plan was endorsed. At COP 26 Parties agreed on aspects of the review of the Gender Action Plan implementation. At COP 27 Parties concluded the intermediate review of the implementation of the gender action plan that started in June 2022. At the national level, a report that was conducted by the IUCN titled Gender integration in the revised Nationally Determined Contributions, indicated that gender inclusion in climate policy has grown through revised nationally-defined climate action plans under the UNFCCC Paris Agreement and its implementation guidelines. Furthermore, parties to Paris Agreement are engaged in identifying methodologies to ensure that NDC implementation mainstreams gender equality consideration. In this regard, the NDC Partnership’s Practical Guide Developing Gender-responsive NCD Action Plans provides an overarching framework for integrating gender dimensions in in national climate change mitigation and adaptation policies and activities.
Despite this progress in mainstreaming gender equality in climate change policies, there are still significant gaps that need further scrutinizing and collective action from the international community. For example, the WRD Policy Tracker which evaluates the progress of gender-responsive and inclusive climate action policies in 193 countries revealed that only 7 countries have put in place risk reduction/risk management frameworks inclusive of all Sendai Framework high-risk groups; about 53 countries include gender perspective in policies and legislations and only 7 countries indicate that women or organizations have actively taken part in formulating the climate disaster management frameworks in their countries. While the recent integration of gender considerations into key multilateral climate finance mechanisms, including the recently operationalzed Green Climate Fund, are meant to financially empower women in climate change mitigation and adaptation, however, only 0.01 percent of all worldwide funding supports projects that address both climate change and women’s rights. The reasons beyond that span from the socio-cultural barriers that prevent girls from education, political participation and decision making to legal barriers that restrict women’s access to capital, markets and land ownership. According to the International Monetary Fund almost 9 out of 10 countries have at least one gender-based legal restriction – such restrictions on economic opportunities for women, including access to credit and only in 2 out of 10 countries women assume senior corporate positions or play a leadership role.
COP28: gender responsive climate action gains traction
In the context of COP28’s Gender Equality Day, the COP28 Presidency announced the Gender-Responsive Just Transitions & Climate Action Partnership, which was endorsed by 68 Parties. A gender-responsive approach goes beyond sensitivity to gender differences. It seeks to actively promote equality through concrete gender-relevant measures that empower women in climate change decision making both at the local and national levels as well as in broader political and planning processes. Such gender responsive approach is much needed not only to empower women in disaster and climate risk reduction and adaptation, but also to ensure women having a say in the ongoing transition process, shaping its trajectory and benefiting from its outcomes.
For a just and a smooth transition to low-carbon energy systems it is essential to build the capacity of women to compete in the green job market. It is indicated that the share of women in STEM jobs in renewable energy is only 28%. So, it is crucial to invest in women’s and girls’ education and removing barriers to their entry of the job market as well as. Accessible climate finance can improve the climate risk management efforts while simultaneously harnessing the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1 (poverty reduction) and SDG 5 (gender equality).
One way climate finance can support gender equality is by prioritizing adaptation and mitigation projects that ensure the dual benefits of achieving financial revenues for women and meeting climate targets. For example, facilitating access to sustainable energy technologies would facilitate women investment in renewables while also contributing to a reduction in their reliance on solid fuels, the use of which contributes 25 percent to global carbon emissions. Beyond helping bridge gender disparities, targeting and involving women and men equitably in the implementation of existing climate finance mechanisms would help ensure the sustainability and efficiency of such mechanisms. To this end, these mechanisms must have clear policies that reflect women’s priorities and needs. Therefore, it is crucial to actively engage women in the development of funding criteria, mechanisms, and types particularly at the climate-affected regions. In addition to the above mentioned, the gender-responsive just transitions & climate action partnership calls for gender- disaggregated data collection to better understand the impacts of climate change on women and evaluate the progress that is made towards women empowerment in climate action and projects. The lack of disaggregated data has always been an impediment to track advances on the implementation of gender-responsive climate policies, national commitments on climate finance, and equal opportunities in the green market.
Conclusion: A gender- responsive transition is a prerequisite for a just transition
Active resistance to gender equality and chronic marginalization of women in climate-change decision making are key factors in slow progress and, in some cases, reversals of gains that achieved in international climate action. The declaration of the gender-responsive just transitions & climate action partnership at COP28 is an evidence that a green transition without a gender focus will exacerbate existing gender inequality and maintain women at the sidelines of the climate change policy making. Building the capacity of women and facilitating their access to the green job market can produce substantial macroeconomic gains while eliminating income disparities and accelerate climate action. In addition, addressing institutional barriers through eliminating discriminatory laws, expanding women’s role in leadership and decision-making and prioritizing investments in women rights and climate change projects are among the concrete actions that are part of the newly launched gender-responsive climate action partnership with the ultimate objective to accelerate a just green transition. However, the success of this partnership hinges on the collaboration and cooperation between all actors involved in climate action to bridge traditional silos and mainstream gender equality in climate risk reduction and resilience. In addition to the traditional actors who shape and implement climate change policies, it is crucial to bring non-traditional actors to the table including grassroots women’s organizations, women with disabilities, local communities and female activists.