COP 23: Gender Equality and Climate Change

Abstract

The World Climate Conference 2017 (COP 23) yielded the adoption of the first United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Gender Action Plan (GAP). This is a positive shift towards an integration of gender justice and human rights in the context of the UN Climate Action Plan. GAP necessitates importance granted to gender-equal climate policy and therefore, must be integrated into national climate action plans (programs). The first progress assessment will be conducted at COP 25 towards the end of 2019. However, while GAP recognizes women’s roles and importance with regard to climate change, it does not reach out beyond this. For instance, development policy measures that likewise play an important role have been excluded. In the Asia-Pacific the specific role of women as livelihood providers has received minimal attention and resultantly there has been little implementation of concrete measures. There are still many steps to be taken before deeper and more fundamental changes are reached.

Keywords

• World Climate Conference
• Gender Justice
• Gender Action Plan
• Pacific Islands