Final review of the Gender Action Plan at COP 29: The importance of empowering women and ensuring their equal participation for a sustainable future
The 11th of November marked the start of COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. It will last until the 21st of November. During the COP, many issues connected to climate change will be discussed, including addressing gender equality in climate action. It is a crucial topic because women are disproportionately affected by climate change and play an important role in sustainable development actions.
The intersection of gender equality and climate action is critical in addressing the global climate crisis. It is crucial to integrate gender perspective into climate policy, with a focus on advancing women's leadership, ensuring equal participation, and promoting gender-responsive implementation across climate-related actions.
This is reflected in the Lima Work Programme on Gender (LWPG) and its Gender Action Plan (GAP), which outline several priority areas designed to ensure that climate actions not only tackle environmental issues but also promote gender equality and the empowerment of women. At COP 25 in 2019 participants agreed on 5 years to enhance Lima's work programme on gender and Gender Action Plan (GAP). In June 2024, the 60th Subsidiary Body of Implementation (SBI) session, started its final review of GAP which will be concluded during this year's COP in Baku.
There are 5 priority areas that GAP focuses on:
- Capacity-Building, Knowledge Management, and Communication: One of the objectives of the LWPG is to improve the integration of gender considerations into climate policy and action. To do this, capacity building needs to be done at all levels- from local communities to international organizations. This involves providing stakeholders with the knowledge and expertise needed to address climate change from a gender perspective.
- Gender Balance, Participation, and Women's Leadership: Ensuring full and equal participation of women in the climate change actions and decision-making. It not only promotes gender equality but also improves the effectiveness of climate change responses.
- Coherence: Ensuring that gender equality is continuously addressed in climate policies and not seen as an isolated issue.
- Gender-Responsive Implementation and Means of Implementation: Ensuring that gender equality perspective is implemented in the Paris Agreement and that women have access to technology and financial resources so they can fully participate in climate change actions.
- Monitoring and Reporting: Ensuring the improvement of reporting and monitoring of LWPG and GAP progress. By doing that, it would be easier to identify the remaining challenges and issues to achieve gender equality in climate actions.
During COP 29 there will be several events focusing on gender and climate change:
- SBI 61 will conclude the review of LWPG and GAP started in June this year.
- During Gender Day on the 21st of November High Level Event on Gender in Transparency will be held. It will underline the importance of the inclusion of gender perspective within the transparency framework. Integrating gender aspects into reporting can improve climate policies and identify needed changes and support.
- National Gender and Climate Change Focal Points.
The integration of gender considerations and gender-responsive approaches into climate action is essential for ensuring that the global response to climate change is both equitable and effective. In the fight against climate change, no one should be left behind, and gender equality is not just a matter of justice- it is a matter of necessity for achieving lasting, effective climate solutions.