Gender mainstreaming practices in the context of climate responses.

The impact of climate change is already causing widespread socio-economic and environmental loss and human suffering around the globe. Climate change erodes human freedoms and limits choice. However the impacts of climate change are not felt equally. Without measures to address the injustice of climate change those with the fewest resources countries and individuals alike will be most susceptible to its negative effects; and those in positions of wealth and power will be the first to benefit from transitions in the economy towards a low carbon society. Climate change impacts and solutions when viewed through an intersectional lens encompass a wide diversity of experiences due to age ethnicity class and in particular gender. Gender is a social construct. While not immutable nor universal gender shapes expectations attributes roles capacities and rights of women and men around the world. Climate change affects everyone but women and men experience the impacts differently and women are often disproportionately negatively affected. Women compared to men often have limited access to resources more restricted rights limited mobility and a muted voice in shaping decisions and influencing policy. At the same time gender roles generally ascribed to women such as informal reproductive work often relate to caregiving for households and communities caretaking of seeds and soils maintaining traditional agricultural knowledge and responsibility for natural resource management such as firewood and water and thus these roles create opportunity for engagement as women bring diverse and critical solutions to climate change challenges. Effective climate policy is only possible when it is informed by the experiences of and responds to the rights priorities and diverse needs of all people. 2015 is a critical year for climate policy as well as the broader global sustainable development agenda. It is also a critical time to review progress on gender mainstreaming in the context of climate change responses including key challenges and opportunities to move toward an equal and sustainable future. This background paper focuses on the UNFCCC. It begins with a review of gender mainstreaming generally; followed by an exploration of gender mainstreaming in the context of UNFCCC policies and programs and a related section on what gender-responsive actions look like; then identifies gaps and opportunities; and finally concludes with recommendations for the UNFCCC.