22 August 2013: In preparation for the 19th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 19) to the UNFCCC to be held in Warsaw, Poland, in November 2013, the Women’s Environment and Development Network (WEDO), in partnership with the Global Gender and Climate Alliance (GGCA) and the UNFCCC Secretariat, released a publication titled ‘Gender Equality and the UNFCCC: A Compilation of Decision Text.’

The publication, which compiles gender-responsive language from all UNFCCC agreements, was released ahead of the 2 September deadline for parties and observer organizations to submit ‘views on options and ways to advance the goal of […] gender balance in bodies established pursuant to the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol, in order to improve women’s participation and inform more effective climate change policy that addresses the needs of women and men equally,’ as requested by COP Decision 23/CP.18. The publication is intended as a reference tool for policymakers and practitioners, as gender equality continues to be increasingly recognized as a critical crosscutting issue in major multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), including the UNFCCC.

In addition to inviting submissions, Decision 23/CP.18 also mandates the UNFCCC Secretariat to convene a workshop during COP 19 to consider gender balance, capacity building and gender-sensitive climate policy.

Launched in 2007, the Global Gender and Climate Alliance (with WEDO, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN development Programme (UNDP), and IUCN) works to ensure that climate change policies, decision-making, and initiatives at the global, regional and national levels are gender responsive. [Publication: Gender Equality and the UNFCCC: A Compilation of Decision Text] [WEDO Website] [GGCA Website]