Gender and Environmental Sustainability

Gender and environmental sustainability are inextricably interlinked. Women’s unequal participation in the environmental decision-making processes hinders their sustained resilience against environmental challenges, most notably climate change. Gender Concerns International therefore is determined to ensure that gender mainstreaming is adequately reflected in the development of climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Gender Concerns International has for many years played an active role in the United Nations Framework Conventions on Climate Change, including COP22 in 2016, COP24 in 2018, COP25 in 2019. The organisation looks forward to again paritcipate in this year´s COP 26 at the Virtual Gender Market Place organised on November 9 by the UNFCCC Gender Team.

G-WIN initiative: Network to enhance female leadership in environmental decision-making and policy implementation.

After the successful COP22 of 2016, Gender Concerns International launched the Post-COP Gender Watch International Network (G-WIN) Initiative.

The G-WIN initiative has been launched to reaffirm international commitments to Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 5 and 13, and offers the opportunity for women’s and civil society organizations to collectivise a multi-stakeholder voice in:

  • auditing the agreements and declarations adopted at COP
  • monitoring the implementation of climate-change and environmentally grounded sustainability policies including the Nationally Determined Contributions
  • promoting new gender-sensitive environmental initiatives

The G-WIN initiative is needed as women are still underrepresented at climate negotiations, while disproportionately affected by climate change due to gender roles and gender inequalities.

The initiative builds on progress achieved so far, aiming to enhance female leadership in environmental decision-making and policy implementation.