‘Climate Change Is Not Gender-Neutral’: COP28 Concludes With Historic Commitments, Focus on Gender Equality
More than 60 countries at the UN climate conference committed to emphasize gender equality and women’s empowerment in the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy
The 28th UN Climate Change Conference, better known as COP28, closed last week in Dubai. The conference gained attention for its controversial president, Sultan Al Jaber, the leader of the United Arab Emirates’ state oil company, and its historic final agreements where countries committed for the first time to transition away from fossil fuels. COP28 also addressed the connection between gender equality and climate justice, with UN Women introducing a framework paper about the topic.
The UN Women report presents evidence that climate change policies have overlooked gender issues, leading to adverse outcomes for women and girls in various economic and social areas. The framework incorporates the concepts of recognition, redistribution, representation, and reparation and the principles of interdependence and intersectionality.
On a conference day dedicated to gender equality, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed stated that women were key drivers of climate action at local and global levels.
“Women stand at the forefront of the climate battle,” Mohammed said in her video remarks. “Whether as scientists, legislators, indigenous leaders, youth activists, they are fighting to keep the 1.5 degrees Celsius target alive.”
The rights of women and girls must be at the center of climate action, including here at COP28
During a women’s panel discussion at the event, the panelists emphasized their intention to closely monitor the progress of climate actions, particularly focusing on funding for a fair transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.
“The rights of women and girls must be at the center of climate action, including here at COP28. We must ensure that women have a seat at the decision-making table,” UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous said during the panel.
“We must strengthen inclusive decision making so that the voices of feminists, youth, indigenous and other grassroot movements can be heard loud and clear from the local to the global level,” she added.
Climate change is not gender-neutral—it disproportionately impacts women and girls
The event highlighted the role of women through initiatives such as the recently launched Gender-Responsive Just Transitions & Climate Action Partnership. The partnership is founded on three pillars: improved data quality for decision-making in transition planning, enhanced financial flows to regions most affected by climate change, and increased education, skills, and capacity to bolster individual involvement in transitions. Over 60 countries have endorsed the partnership, committing to implement its initiatives over the next three years, leading up to COP31.
“Climate change is not gender-neutral—it disproportionately impacts women and girls. Already, the climate crisis amplifies existing gender inequalities and poses a serious threat to women’s livelihoods, health, and well-being,” said UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28 Razan Al Mubarak.
“To deliver a just transition, we must reform the architecture of the global financial system and ensure finance flows to the regions and the people who need it the most. But we must also invest in women’s economic empowerment to ensure no one is left behind,” she added.
The International Labor Organization reports that 1.2 billion jobs, or two out of every five jobs, are at risk due to global warming and environmental degradation. Women are anticipated to be disproportionately affected owing to their significant presence in sectors vulnerable to climate change.
Chloe Griffin, a master diver who organizes dives to retrieve litter from the ocean, said that COP28 “not only provided moments of profound connection but also served as a stark reminder of the urgent need to protect our planet.”
“Every small effort contributes to preserving the vast and overwhelming planet, as echoed in the passionate discussions at COP28. The collective commitment displayed there reinforced my belief that individual actions, no matter how small, can collectively drive positive change on a global scale,” she said.
