At the 11th hour of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (C.O.P. 23), influential leaders have decided to adopt the Subsidiary Body for Implementation’s (S.B.I.) request to develop a gender action plan (G.A.P.) to support the implementation of gender-related decisions and mandates in the U.N.F.C.C.C. process.

This will include priority areas, key activities and indicators, timelines for implementation, responsible and key actors and indicative resource requirements for each activity, and to further elaborate its review and monitoring processes. 

According to the report which was announced by the C.O.P. President Voreqe Bainimarama, the G.A.P programme seeks to advance women’s full, equal and meaningful participation and promote gender-responsive climate policy and the mainstreaming of a gender perspective in the implementation of the convention and the work of parties, the secretariat, United Nations entities and all stakeholders at all levels. 

The report states: “Gender-responsive climate policy requires further strengthening in all activities concerning adaptation, mitigation and related means of implementation (finance, technology development and transfer, and capacity-building) as well as decision-making on the implementation of climate policies. 

“G.A.P. recognizes the need for women to be represented in all aspects of the U.N.F.C.C.C. process and the need for gender mainstreaming through all relevant targets and goals in activities under the convention as an important contribution to increasing their effectiveness. 

“The G.A.P. recognizes that gender-related action is being progressed across all areas of the convention and with respect to the Paris Agreement. 

“Many of the activities in the G.A.P. have been the subject of action by a variety of relevant organizations and will continue to require further action beyond the time frame of the plan. 

“The activities in the G.A.P. vary in terms of measurability, and parties are at various stages in terms of progress on this agenda. Some actions may be afforded differing degrees of prioritization according to the nature and scale of the climate policies being implemented and the capacities of parties. 

“The G.A.P. recognizes that climate action under the convention is a party-driven process,” says the report. 

G.A.P. sets out, in five priority areas, the activities that will drive the achievement of its objectives such as capacity-building, knowledge sharing and communication. 

“Furthermore, G.A.P. seeks to enhance the understanding and expertise of stakeholders on the systematic integration of gender considerations and the application of such understanding and expertise in the thematic areas under the convention and the Paris Agreement and in policies, programmes and projects on the ground. 

“Gender balance, participation and women’s leadership,” says the report. 

G.A.P. also aims to ensure the respect, promotion and consideration of gender equality and the empowerment of women in the implementation of the convention and the Paris Agreement.