29 September 2015: A high-level jointly hosted by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women, and the Government of France drew attention to the importance of scaling up gender-responsive climate actions and empowering women to respond to climate change.

The event, titled ‘Empowering Women in Climate Action,’ took place on 29 September, on the sidelines of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 70), in New York, US. It focused on examining the gender equality dimensions of climate action with an eye on ensuring that the 2015 climate agreement contributes to the central role of women in resilience and low-emission development.

Noting that there is an increasing recognition of the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and the beneficial impacts of women’s empowerment on resilience, UN Women Deputy Executive Director Yannick Glemarec called for a “paradigm shift that puts women at the center of our adaptation, mitigation, and disaster risk management efforts” at all levels.

UNDP Administrator Helen Clark suggested the UN Paris Climate Change Conference can drive action by: ensuring that needs of both women and men are considered in mitigation and adaptation investments; providing equal access to climate change-related decision-making and green jobs; and promoting gender-disaggregated data.

Remarks were also delivered by French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development Laurent Fabius, Peruvian Minister for Environment Manuel Pulgar Vidal, Moroccan Minister for Environment Hakima El Haite and former Finnish President Tarja Halonen.

The event also included a presentation by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) on the Fund’s gender policy and the prospects for financing, implementing and assessing gender-responsive climate initiatives.

Also on 29 September, in New York, the Government of Spain and UN Women signed a Strategic Partnership Framework on collaboration in promoting women’s rights and gender equality over the period 2015-2016. [UN Event Concept Note] [UNDP Speech Transcript] [UN Women Speech Transcript] [UN Women Press Release on Strategic Partnership]