WELA endorses new global report urging need for gender lens in climate policy

The report shows a gaping exclusion of gender consideration in most national climate change policies, including those of the world’s largest economies, the G20 countries. This is despite countries agreeing to the Gender Action Plan at COP25, to drive gender responsive climate policy.  

According to the findings of the report, Australia is trailing far behind. Gender is not mentioned once in Australia’s own climate change mandates, domestic government material, or even mentioned in its national climate policies. Gender is only ever mentioned in our foreign policy. As floods, fire and heat waves ravage our country, Australia needs a smarter response.

Australia’s complete absence of gender integration in our domestic climate policy shows the need for urgent change – our future depends on it. 

Why does the gender lens matter?

It’s simple:

• More climate disasters = more negative consequences for women and girls
• More gender empowerment = better environmental outcomes for everyone

More climate disasters = more negative consequences for women and girls

Really? Yes, really. Here’s what the report outlines:

• A study in rural Australia found that women’s paid and unpaid work increased in times of climate-related stress, leading to negative health impacts. 
• Women and children account for over 80% of the population displaced due to climate change. 
• Studies have shown that gender-based violence becomes more prevalent after natural disasters, with complex and far-reaching consequences on health, safety and well-being. 
• Natural disasters result in higher mortality rates for women than men, with the disparity greatest relating to women experiencing the harshest poverty.
• In many regions, women bear a disproportionate responsibility for securing food, water and fuel. As droughts, floods and other erratic weather events increase, there will be an increased burden on women holding responsibility for their families’ food, water and energy needs.

In the context of Australia’s ongoing and recent floods, these facts are particularly pertinent.  

More gender empowerment = better environmental outcomes for everyone

This is where the solutions intersect with the problem. And this solution is pretty far reaching, in fact it’s about 50% of the population.

Here’s how this latest report has found women are driving solutions for our climate:

• Increasing women’s representation in parliament has been found to lead countries to adopt more stringent climate change policies, which in turn result in lower carbon dioxide emissions. 
• An in-depth study shows that a one unit increase in a country’s score on the Women’s Political Empowerment Index demonstrates an 11.5% decrease in the country’s carbon emissions.

Fig. 1: Increasing Women’s Political Empowerment decreases emissions 

A one unit increase in a country’s score on the Women’s Political Empowerment Index results in a 11.51% decrease in the country’s carbon emissions. 

The problem and solutions are clear. Let’s do something about it. 

For gender to be effectively integrated into climate policy, women and gender diverse people, particularly from Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour communities, have to be present in decision-making processes. 

While Australia is representing gender in our foreign policies, gender is still completely absent domestically. Why is our government seeing it’s value internationally and not at home? This has to change. 

Fig. 2: Inclusion of gender in the national climate policies of G20 countries 

Our government needs to ramp up efforts to effectively and coherently integrate gender considerations into climate relevant policies, ensuring active participation of women and marginalised groups. 

Read the report in full.