The world has already failed to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. As the Emissions Gap Report 2023 shows, with current climate mitigation efforts, global warming is projected to reach 3°C by the end of this century, well above the 1.5 °C target. The trajectory toward 3°C global warming signifies irreversible changes and catastrophic consequences for the climate system, with disproportionate risks and burdens, particularly on women with intersecting disadvantages such as indigenous, migrant, low-income, rural and fragile state residents.
The consequences of climate change do not only threaten national and international security, peace and stability through increased risk of inter- and intra-state violent conflicts. It also increase women and girls’ vulnerability to displacement, health risks, food insecurity, and conflict-related gender-based violence, including sexual violence, trafficking and domestic violence. Furthermore, women remain severely underrepresented in decision-making positions in resource allocation and climate change policy formulation.
This article examines the urgent need to address the underrepresentation of women in climate governance, while also exploring the importance of women’s engagement and the critical link between gender equality, climate change and conflict.
Lack of women in climate governance
Since the Beijing Declaration in 1995, increasing women’s participation in environmental decision-making, policy implementation and evaluation processes have been a strategic goal for sustainable development. The Paris Agreement also highlighted the importance of women in climate adaptation and capacity building as key to achieving gender-responsive climate action. It was only in 2015, that climate change started to be recognised as a cross-cutting concept, and as a threat to global peace and security as mentioned in the Women, Peace, and Security agenda (Resolution 2242). Through inclusive efforts in policies and action plans, the seeds of change have been sown in addressing gender inequalities in climate action, intersecting with peace and security. However, there is still much remains to be done to nurture their growth to achieve gender equality in climate action.
Despite the significant contributions of women, particularly indigenous and rural women, in addressing their environmental and security concerns at the grassroots level, their representation at the international level remains inadequate. The most recent example, COP29, scheduled to take place in Azerbaijan in December 2024, had an organising committee of 28 men and no women until international concerns were raised. Subsequently, the gender parity was ‘compromised’ to 29 men and 12 women for the committee.
The positive impact of women’s inclusion in climate governance and the interplay with gender and peace
To achieve effective and sustainable climate action and global peace, it is crucial to empower women at all levels of climate mitigation and adaptation initiatives. Besides advocating for a gender-inclusive approach in climate policies and action plans, increasing the number of women in such initiatives is one of the strategic approaches to accomplishing this goal.
Time and time again, research reveals the gender dimension of climate change. There are strong correlations between gender equality indices and measures of environmental performance. Women’s expertise, values and knowledge promote better cooperation on climate adaptation strategies. Cross-country evidence from Denmark to Bahrain shows that women’s representation in national parliaments leads to stronger climate change policies, resulting in lower carbon dioxide emissions. Studies also suggest that women’s involvement in forest conservation and legislative bodies can reduce deforestation, which in return can decrease the conflicts between forest users, as in the cases of Costa Rica and Cameroon.
Women’s participation offers a unique perspective in climate change efforts, addressing issues often overlooked by men due to their different experiences and perspectives. However, simply increasing the number of women on climate change panels and forums does not always guarantee true gender equality, as many women may still face gender bias in these initiatives. Overcoming these gender barriers is critical to promoting more sustainable natural resource management, disaster readiness, and community resilience to environmental stressors. By including women in climate governance, we can develop comprehensive approaches to climate change that address the root causes of conflict, ultimately leading to conflict prevention and resolution.
Increasing women’s engagement is not only a matter of social justice, but also an essential need for sustainable development, effective climate response, conflict prevention and resolution. To achieve this, more efforts are needed to address the structural gender barriers that women face as climate actors. Additionally, there is still a need to deconstruct gendered practices in climate governance, implement gender-responsive policies and strengthen the link between local and global efforts. By translating the political commitments into action, we can harness the fruits of efforts already planted by the agreements and promote a more sustainable world.
By: Şevval Salman, volunteer