CGIAR Gender News

Women’s leadership and gender-responsive financing for effective climate action

UN summit Photo: Karwai Tang/UK Government

At the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2021 (commonly referred to as Conference of Parties – COP26) Glasgow, "Gender Day" was observed to recognize and celebrate  equality and empowerment of women and girls in climate policy and action. 

Gender Day builds on the momentum created at COP25 to advance gender-responsive climate action. Its guiding principle was how climate action and justice are incomplete without considering gender equality and gender justice. The idea emanates from the fact that men and women are differentially impacted by the effects of climate change.

Even today, a large section of rural women in the Global South depends on agriculture for their livelihoods. The women are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts through their engagement. Temperature rise, frequent flooding, increased salinity, droughts affect agricultural production resulting in income losses for many smallholders across the Global South.