Collaboration for gender and environmental progress

By 2050, climate change may push 158 million more women and girls into poverty. While women handle 50% of global food production, only 15 countries include gender in agricultural climate planning. Despite often being hit the hardest by climate impacts, women and girls are powerful agents of change. From indigenous women protecting vital carbon sinks in the Amazon to female-led disaster committees reducing community vulnerability in flood-prone regions, to leaders and activists transforming international climate policy by championing gender-responsive approaches, their leadership drives effective solutions.    This #WorldEnvironmentDay, let's commit to gender-responsive climate action by centering women in policy development, directing climate financing to women-led programs and achieving gender parity in decision-making. Read more in my latest article:

“The climate crisis is not gender-neutral. Women and girls disproportionately bear the brunt of climate change, yet their voices remain largely underrepresented in climate decision-making,” said Jemimah Njuki, UN Women Chief of Women’s Economic Empowerment. Gender/Women and climate change are interconnected through their social, economic, and environmental impacts. The effects of climate change often exacerbate existing gender inequalities, while gender-responsive approaches can enhance climate resilience and mitigation. Gendered Impacts of Climate Change Climate change does not affect everyone equally. Women, men, and gender-diverse individuals experience its impacts differently due to varying roles, responsibilities, and access to resources. Women and Girls: Increased Vulnerability: Women are more vulnerable in many contexts due to limited access to land, education, and financial resources. For example, women make up the majority of the agricultural workforce in many regions but often lack land ownership and access to climate-resilient technologies. • Health Risks • Displacement Gender Roles in Climate Solutions Addressing climate change requires gender-responsive strategies that account for diverse needs and capabilities. Empowering Women: Leadership in Climate Action: Women’s participation in environmental decision-making often leads to more sustainable and equitable outcomes. For example, studies show that when women are involved in forest management, deforestation rates decline. Adoption of Clean Technologies: Women are key to the success of renewable energy and sustainable agriculture initiatives, especially in rural areas. Community Resilience: Women often spearhead grassroots movements for climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction. Policy and Global Frameworks Efforts to integrate gender equality Recommendations for Gender-Responsive Climate Action Plans Inclusive Policy Design: Ensure that climate policies and programs include diverse gender perspectives. Data Collection: Improve gender-disaggregated data to understand specific impacts and needs. Access to Resources: Promote women’s access to land, credit, education, and clean technologies. Leadership Development: Support women and gender-diverse individuals in leadership roles within climate governance. By recognizing the gendered dimensions of climate change, societies can create equitable, effective solutions to mitigate and adapt to its effects. #gender #climate change UN Climate Change UN Women NITI Aayog

Gender and climate issues are interconnected in various ways. Women and men often experience the impacts of climate change differently due to their roles, responsibilities, and access to resources within society. Gender inequalities can exacerbate the effects of climate change on vulnerable populations, particularly in developing countries. Women, especially in rural areas, are often more dependent on natural resources for their livelihoods and are disproportionately affected by climate-related disasters. In many communities, women are responsible for tasks like collecting water and firewood, which become more challenging due to climate change-induced droughts or deforestation. Conversely, women also play a crucial role in climate action and adaptation. Studies have shown that when women are involved in decision-making processes related to climate change, outcomes are more effective and sustainable. Empowering women and ensuring their participation in climate-related initiatives can lead to more inclusive and successful solutions. Therefore, addressing gender inequalities and promoting women's empowerment are essential components of effective climate action. By recognizing and integrating gender perspectives into climate policies and projects, we can create more resilient and sustainable responses to the challenges posed by climate change.

Dear colleagues,   Today, the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, we celebrate the power of women’s leadership where it’s needed most. Climate and environmental shocks are changing lives across the globe. But disasters don’t impact everyone equally. Women and girls, especially those excluded from decisions and resources, are often the first to suffer and the last to recover. At UNDP, we are working hard with partners to place gender equality at the center of disaster risk reduction. This is essential for building stronger, and more resilient communities. This is not just policy work. It is a fact, deeply human. In every crisis, women are the ones organizing food and care, keeping clinics open, restarting income, and mediating at the community level. Their leadership is not only theoretical. It exists in practical, urgent, and transformative ways. In our latest blog, my colleague Ronald Jackson and I share five examples of how women’s leadership is transforming disaster preparedness and recovery: ·       In Chad, women’s cooperatives are combining climate-smart agriculture, solar irrigation, and early warning systems to reduce flood risks and support recovery.  ·      In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Feminist Coalition for Climate Justice has improved working conditions for 75,000 women and trained 1,500 women officials.  ·      In Honduras, care mapping tools are helping authorities identify “care deserts” and prioritize safe-space upgrades in flood-prone areas.  ·      In Ukraine, the “Mommy in the Shelter” initiative links early warning systems with maternal and childcare support during air raids.  ·      In Guatemala, the national disaster authority earned UNDP’s Gender Equality Seal, an international certification hard to get, embedding gender equality and Indigenous women’s participation into risk management. These examples show what’s possible when women’s leadership, care, and better distribution of power are foundational to planning. I invite you to read the full blog: https://lnkd.in/eVhXRgkk . #DRRday #ResiliencePays #GenderEquality #WomenLead #Resilience #UNDP #LeadershipInCrisis #InclusiveRecovery Ronald Jackson Rehab Al-Sanabani Yuko Yokoi Shoko Noda Cleopatra Hurungo Sudha Gooty Guillermina Martin Rania M Tarazi Corneliu Eftodi Cate Owren

✋ Read the new policy brief, "Gender Indicators for Sustainable Energy: A Call to Action" released by the United Nations and developed by the UN DESA-led multi-stakeholder SDG 7 Technical Advisory Group (TAG) in collaboration with the SDG 7 custodian agencies (ESMAP/World Bank, IEA, IRENA, UNSD, WHO), the co-conveners of the Gender and Energy Compact (ENERGIA, GWNET, SEforALL, UNIDO), and UN Women. 👉 It highlights the critical interlinkages between SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and offers a strategic framework for embedding gender indicators into energy sector planning and implementation.

🌍 Gender and Environmental Challenges in the Developing World 1. Disproportionate Vulnerability Women in developing countries are often more vulnerable to environmental challenges due to: i). Poverty and limited access to resources (land, credit, education, technology) ii). Heavy dependence on natural resources (forests, water, land) for daily livelihoods iii). Limited voice in decision-making processes (community, policy, household) iv). Increased burden from environmental degradation (e.g., walking farther for water/firewood) 2. Key Environmental Challenges Affecting Women a). Climate Change: Women face higher exposure to climate risks (e.g., floods, droughts) but have fewer resources to adapt b) Deforestation: Loss of fuelwood, herbs, and food sources, often collected by women. c). Water Scarcity: Women and girls spend more time collecting water, reducing time for education or paid work. d). Agricultural Decline: Women farmers have less access to inputs and land rights but are responsible for food production. e). Waste & Pollution: Indoor air pollution from cooking with biomass affects women’s health more severely. 3. Gender Inequalities That Exacerbate the Crisis Legal barriers to land ownership Gender-blind policies that fail to reflect women’s needs or voices Underrepresentation in environmental governance Informal labor roles that go unrecognized in adaptation and mitigation programs 4. Women as Environmental Stewards Despite the challenges, women are vital agents of environmental protection: *Indigenous women preserve traditional ecological knowledge *Women’s groups lead local conservation, reforestation, and clean energy initiatives *Female farmers are innovating in climate-smart agriculture 5. Pathways for Change To ensure equity and sustainability: *Integrate gender analysis into environmental programs and climate action *Support women’s access to land, finance, and green technology *Invest in women-led initiatives on conservation, resilience, and green jobs *Strengthen women’s leadership in environmental decision-making FEMNET - African Women's Development and Communication Network, Women Educational Researchers of Kenya, Women's Empowerment Link Gender Equity Unit, UoN Anthropology and Gender Students Association, Gender Equity Policy Institute (GEPI), Institute for Faith and Gender Empowerment (IFAGE), CGIAR GENDER Accelerator, Gender, Work & Organization, HBS Race, Gender & Equity Initiative, UN Environment Programme, Gender, Adolescent Transitions & Environment (GATE) Program, EU Environment and ClimateEnvironmental Defense Fund Europe