A report published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) advocates for a gender-responsive approach to advancing climate and forest initiatives in policy and practice.
People living in and around forests, both women and men, have valuable knowledge about forest landscapes. However, many marginalized groups, such as Indigenous Peoples, women, and youth, often face barriers due to social, economic, and political inequalities, and limited access to resources. Such barriers can deepen existing gender disparities, compromising climate action’s effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability.
Addressing this requires the creation of fair, inclusive, and gender-responsive climate policies and practices for forest conservation. These measures not only promote gender equality and women empowerment but also enhance the overall impact and sustainability of climate initiatives focused on forest conservation.
Data strongly supports the value of a gender-sensitive approach. Gender equality and women empowerment are recognized as critical to driving sustainable development and effective climate action. A gender-sensitive approach can assist countries in achieving their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by enabling investments in priority areas that can meet climate goals and drive sustainable development.
Integrating gender-responsive climate action within NDCs acknowledges marginalized groups’ rights, priorities, and needs, thereby fostering an inclusive approach to achieving a low-carbon, sustainable future in forest conservation efforts.
Reference: United Nations Development Programme (October 2024). Gender Front & Centre: Best practices from the Governors’ Climate & Forests Task Force. Retrieved October 31, 2024 from https://www.undp.org/publications/gender-front-centre-best-practices-governors-climate-forests-task-force
