Enhancing Synergies to Advance Gender-Responsive Approaches Under the Convention on Biological Diversity and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
Climate change and biodiversity loss could exacerbate existing gender and social inequalities. This paper examines the rationale and key recommendations for undertaking a synergistic, coordinated, and gender-responsive approach to the development and implementation of national biodiversity and climate change commitments and strategies, in line with the Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD’s) Gender Plan of Action and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC’s) Belém Gender Action Plan.
Key Messages
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Gender equality is foundational to effective biodiversity and climate action. Climate change and biodiversity loss deepen existing inequalities, while inclusive governance leads to more ambitious, lasting, and equitable outcomes.
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Integrating gender-responsive approaches across nationally determined contributions, national adaptation plans, and national biodiversity strategy and action plans is the most effective entry point for advancing synergies.
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Gender-responsive approaches are a moral imperative and prerequisite for sound policy-making. Policies must account for gender and social inequalities that influence outcomes while leveraging the knowledge that women and underrepresented groups can contribute to inform policy.
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Gender inequality intersects with other systems of inequity, such as racism, ableism, and ageism. The CBD’s and the UNFCCC’s respective gender action plans also recognize other systemic forms of discrimination and marginalization that influence vulnerability to biodiversity loss and climate change.
This thematic paper argues that gender equality is a foundational prerequisite for effective climate and biodiversity action. As climate change and biodiversity loss exacerbate existing inequalities, a gender-responsive governance approach is necessary to achieve ambitious, equitable, and lasting outcomes. Aligning gender mandates under the UNFCCC and the CBD—and integrating gender considerations into nationally determined contributions, national adaptation plans, and national biodiversity strategy and action plans—supports a more coherent policy landscape, with gender-responsive nature-based solutions serving as a key entry point for this joint implementation. Beyond being a matter of equity, this approach improves policy by addressing intersecting forms of discrimination (such as racism and ableism) and recognizing women and marginalized groups as proactive agents of change rather than just vulnerable populations.
The thematic paper is part of a series aimed at enhancing the understanding and policy uptake of integrated solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises:
- Summary paper: Synergies Between Biodiversity- and Climate-Relevant Policy Frameworks and Their Implementation
- Thematic paper 1: Linkages and Synergies Between International Instruments on Biodiversity and Climate Change
- Thematic paper 2: Linkages Between Biodiversity and Climate Change and the Role of Science–Policy–Practice Interfaces for Ensuring Coherent Policies and Actions
- Thematic paper 3: Nature-Based Solutions: An approach for joint implementation of climate and biodiversity commitments
- Thematic paper 4: Good Governance for Integrated Climate and Biodiversity Policy-Making
- Thematic paper 5: From National to Local Implementation: A collaborative, multilevel effort to achieve joint climate and biodiversity goals
- Thematic paper 6: Delivering Financing for Joint Biodiversity and Climate Solutions
- Thematic paper 7: Synergies for Monitoring and Reporting on Climate and Biodiversity Actions: Global frameworks and national opportunities
- Thematic paper 8: The Role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in Contributing to the Achievement of Global Climate and Biodiversity Goals
- Thematic paper 9: Enhancing Synergies to Advance Gender-Responsive Approaches Under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
- Thematic paper 10: Resources and Platforms for Capacity Building and Development for Synergistic Climate and Biodiversity Actions
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