This brief is a contribution to the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21). It provides an overview of how well members of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) are integrating gender equality into their bilateral aid to climate change.
KEY FINDINGS
- In 2013, 29% of DAC members’ bilateral aid to climate change targeted gender equality – representing a total of USD 6.9 billion. Just 3% of aid to climate change targeted gender equality as a principal objective, while 26% targeted gender equality as a secondary objective.
- Aid to climate change adaptation has a stronger focus on gender equality than aid to mitigation. In 2013, of total climate-related ODA focused on gender equality, 46% targeted climate change adaptation only and 19% targeted climate change mitigation only.
- Gender-responsive approaches are needed across all climate-related sectors. While gender equality is quite well integrated in climate-related aid to agriculture and water, it is poorly addressed in economic infrastructure sectors. In 2012-13, only 11% of climate-related aid to energy and 12% to transport targeted gender equality. Almost no climate aid to these sectors targeted gender equality as a principal objective.
- More needs to be done to improve women’s opportunities to participate in the green economy, notably through ensuring that women benefit equally from development projects focusing on clean technology and renewable energy. The COP21 is a critical opportunity for DAC members to step-up their commitment to integrate gender equality in all aspects of climate action.
