Climate negotiations have a gender inequality problem

Women are key to solving the climate crisis, but they're still underrepresented in decision-making. It's time to change that.

By Jesse Chase-Lubitz // 26 September 2024

Women are still underrepresented at climate negotiations despite the fact that they are disproportionately affected by climate change. Studies also show that their participation in local and national level discussions tends to lead to more action. “Women are the answer to every climate question,” Kathy Baughman McLeod, CEO of Climate Resilience for All, a gender-focused climate adaptation nonprofit, said at a Devex event on the sidelines of UNGA 79 on Sept. 25. But since the first United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties in 1995, only five women have been appointed as COP presidents. In 2022, women made up less than 34% of the country negotiating teams at the COP summit in Egypt. And this lack of representation has been a discussion point at many COPs — without much change. “We often talk about how the climate crisis is affecting women and girls,” said Olivia Leland, founder and CEO of Co-Impact, a global philanthropic collaborative. “But the conversation also needs to be about how women leaders need to be driving those conversations at every level.” Experts say that there is a need to break down silos between the gender justice and climate justice discussions on an institutional level. “If you’re focusing on advancing gender equality and shifting systems, inevitably you will also be looking at climate,” Leland said. “But the two groups are still quite siloed. While we actually do have a lot of bright spots of people trying to bring them together, I think what we’re finding is that a lot more needs to happen.” Beyond policy, experts say that women entrepreneurs could be the key to economic and social breakthroughs, especially in Africa. Africa has the highest rate of female entrepreneurs globally, but they receive less than 7% of the venture capital funding on the continent. “Women are the lungs of the economy,” said Yamide Dagnet, international senior vice president of the Natural Resources Defense Council. “There is potential for scale and potential to really go further with partners.”

“Women are the answer to every climate question,” Kathy Baughman McLeod, CEO of Climate Resilience for All, a gender-focused climate adaptation nonprofit, said at a Devex event on the sidelines of UNGA 79 on Sept. 25.

But since the first United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties in 1995, only five women have been appointed as COP presidents. In 2022, women made up less than 34% of the country negotiating teams at the COP summit in Egypt. And this lack of representation has been a discussion point at many COPs — without much change.

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About the author

Jesse Chase-Lubitz
Jesse Chase-Lubitz covers climate change and multilateral development banks for Devex. She previously worked at Nature Magazine, where she received a Pulitzer grant for an investigation into land reclamation. She has written for outlets such as Al Jazeera, Bloomberg, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, and The Japan Times, among others. Jesse holds a master’s degree in Environmental Policy and Regulation from the London School of Economics.