By Uzoamaka Nwamarah, Acting Head, Climate Change, and Dr Nancy Omolo, Commonwealth Climate Finance Gender Adviser
As climate challenges escalate, inclusive decision-making is crucial. It is a stark contradiction that women, who are disproportionately impacted by climate change, continue to be underrepresented in crucial climate negotiations. Reflecting on International Women’s Day, we must commit to breaking this cycle and advancing women’s leadership in climate governance and finance.
Why representation matters
Women’s participation in negotiations leads to more ambitious, inclusive and equitable climate policies. However, the UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COPs) and climate finance institutions continue to lack gender balance, limiting inclusive solutions. Representation of women, young people, Indigenous Peoples, and persons with disabilities helps to ensures fair access to climate finance and more effective action. Inclusive governance fosters trust, driving meaningful progress for all.
Data for accountability
To address these imbalances, climate institutions must track and report gender-disaggregated data at all levels of governance.
A key barrier to gender equity in climate governance is the lack of gender-disaggregated data, a vital tool for accountability and ensuring climate finance reaches women-led and gender-responsive initiatives. The 2024 UNFCCC Gender Composition Report highlights key gaps:
- Women’s representation in UNFCCC constituted bodies is at an average of 39%
- Observer delegations, like the Commonwealth Secretariat’s annual delegation, have higher female representation than Party or country delegations
- The UNFCCC Trust Fund for Participation at COP supported 1,624 participants between 2013–2023, but only 30% were women
These figures underscore the need for targeted funding and deliberate efforts to boost female participation in negotiations and leadership.
Driving impactful change
Despite the challenges, several countries are advancing women’s leadership in climate governance and improving access to climate finance. The Commonwealth Best Practice Guide on Gender Integration in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) highlights several of these. One example is Fiji, where the government developed a Gender Action Plan to make climate finance mechanisms accessible to women and ensure gender-responsive projects.
Antigua and Barbuda established a financial strategy through its Sustainable Island Resource Framework (SIRF) Fund to support a gender-responsive implementation of their NDC.
We can do more to drive change, including:
- Scale up climate negotiations training for these groups to build a diverse set of climate decision-makers. In September 2024, the Commonwealth Secretariat, in collaboration with the Australian High Commission in London, delivered a Commonwealth Youth Climate Negotiations training, equipping 29 young climate leaders from 21 Commonwealth countries and Ukraine with negotiation skills.
- Prioritise women-led projects and, crucially, track gender-disaggregated financial flows. Since October 2024, the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH) has appointed a Commonwealth Climate Finance Gender Adviser to support the mainstreaming of gender consideration across all levels of its operations, including providing technical assistance to bolster inclusive climate finance access for member countries.
- Leverage networks like the Commonwealth Collaborative Network on Gender-Responsive Climate Action. Mandated by the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October 2024, this network bridges the knowledge gap on the gendered impacts of climate change, promotes equitable access to climate finance, and strengthens diverse leadership for decision-making.
Gender equity in climate governance is about effectiveness, not just fairness. We must move beyond acknowledgment and take bold steps to ensure women, and all other vulnerable groups, are not just participants but empowered decision-makers who are positively shaping our future.
