Climate change is not gender-neutral. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has highlighted the variations in the extent to which people are affected by climate change, and are able to adapt, depending on a number of factors, including gender. In most countries there are differences in the economic activities, access to resources and decision-making power of men and women. These gender differences affect the ways people are impacted by, and respond to, climate change.
Recognizing the importance of taking these gender differences into account, the Governing Instrument for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) specifically calls for taking a ‘gender-sensitive approach,’ making this the first climate fund to mandate the integration of gender-based perspectives from the outset of its operations. Reinforcing the importance of this approach, COP 18 in Doha adopted a decision on promoting gender balance and improving the participation and representation of women.
This background paper is offered by the Danish/Dutch board seat of the GCF for consideration by the members of the GCF Board. It makes good on the offer that the Danish/Dutch representative made at the first GCF Board Meeting in August 2012 in Geneva to submit a paper on how a gender-sensitive approach in the GCF can be operationalized.
