Gender and Climate Change Policy Brief: Overview of Linkages between Gender and Climate Change

The Earth’s climate is changing already and failure to limit warming to below 2°C could make the changes in the climate system irreversible and characterized by cataclysmic consequences. The adverse impacts of climate change continue to overly burden the poorest and the most vulnerable, especially poor women. Despite growing recognition of the differential vulnerabilities as well as the unique experiences and skills women and men bring to development and environmental sustainability efforts, women still have less economic, political and legal clout and are hence less able to cope with – and are more exposed to – the adverse effects of the changing climate. On the other hand, women are powerful agents of change and continue to make increasing and significant contributions to sustainable development, despite existing structural and sociocultural barriers. As the global community transitions to the implementation phase of the post-2015 development agenda, it is imperative that gender equality and women’s empowerment continue to influence, shape and drive the collective climate and human development effort.