While women and girls are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis, they are also at the forefront of crafting solutions. Yet, despite their vital role in climate adaptation and resilience, women remain vastly underrepresented at COP29. Only 8 out of 78 world leaders are women. This reflects a broader trend of stagnation in women’s participation in climate decision-making.
Despite a growing number of delegations at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), women’s representation has failed to increase meaningfully. At COP28 in 2023, women accounted for just 15 out of 133 world leaders, and only 34% of national delegates. More worrying, only 2% of delegations had a gender balance, a figure that has remained stagnant for over a decade.
These statistics highlight the persistent barriers to gender parity in global climate negotiations, even though women are key drivers of climate solutions. Women’s contributions, from innovative agricultural practices to water management techniques, increase community resilience. They should be reflected in climate policy at every level.
COP29 ; IMPACT OF WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP ON CLIMATE SOLUTIONS
The underrepresentation of women at climate decision-making tables is not just a matter of fairness—it has real-world consequences. Women’s leadership in climate adaptation and resilience initiatives is well-documented. Women bring invaluable perspectives. They participate in grassroots agricultural initiatives. They also engage in local water management solutions. These perspectives can drive more effective and sustainable climate action.
Rosa van Driel, Policy Advisor for Climate Justice at CARE Netherlands, emphasizes: “When women’s insights are ignored, we miss out on solutions that are fairer and more sustainable. Evidence shows that gender-equitable decision-making at all levels leads to more effective climate governance and helps to close adaptation gaps.”
THE GENDERED IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Francesca Rhodes, Senior Policy Adviser on Climate and Gender at CARE International UK, stresses that climate change disproportionately affects women and girls, particularly those already facing poverty and marginalization:
“Climate change is sexist. There is gender inequality in decision-making at every level concerning how to tackle the climate crisis. At the same time, women and girls feel the impacts the strongest.”
As the climate crisis worsens, the need for gender-sensitive climate policies becomes even more urgent. It’s not just about ensuring women’s voices are heard. It’s about making sure that the policies being developed are more inclusive. They should reflect the lived experiences of those most affected.
COP29 ; THE CRITICAL ROLE OF WOMEN’S EXPERTISE
In countries like Nigeria, women are already bearing the worst impacts of climate change. They are also leading the charge in developing solutions. Titilope Gbemisola Akosa, Founding Executive Director of the Centre for 21st Issues, points out the importance of bringing women’s expertise into international climate discussions:
“In Nigeria, women and girls are already experiencing the worst impacts of climate change. Yet they are the ones leading the charge in tackling these impacts in their communities. Their effective leadership must be brought to the table in international settings.”
Ignoring the leadership of women in communities most affected by climate change is a failure of international climate governance. This is especially true as the world faces the consequences of irreversible environmental damage.
THE PATH FORWARD: ENSURING GENDER-EQUITABLE CLIMATE ACTION
The findings of this study call on world leaders to take meaningful action to include women in climate negotiations. Gender-equitable decision-making is not just about fairness; it’s about improving the effectiveness of climate action. Governments, including the UK, have a critical opportunity to ensure that climate finance and support reach women and women’s rights organizations working at the grassroots level.
