{"id":9397,"date":"2025-01-09T15:24:46","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T20:24:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/iiel\/research\/iiel-blog\/echoes-of-the-past-2\/"},"modified":"2025-05-12T11:08:16","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T15:08:16","slug":"where-were-the-women-at-cop29","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/iiel\/research\/publication-opportunities\/iiel-blog\/where-were-the-women-at-cop29\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Were the Women at COP29? A Missed Opportunity for Feminist Climate Finance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Published January 10, 2025 by Carly Kabot<\/a>, Class of 2026 at Georgetown Law, IIEL Fellow<\/em><\/p>\n

I. Introduction<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

On November 13, 2024, UN Women posted a photo to its Instagram with the caption, \u201cCan you spot the women at #COP29? Only 6 out of 78 government leaders mentioned the impact of climate change on women and girls. Four of the six were women.\u201d [1<\/a>] Five years out from the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is more important than ever. While the world is far from achieving its Climate Action Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13, the photo from UN Women (the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women), is a powerful reminder of how much work the international community must put into securing another SDG\u2013\u2013\u00a0 SDG 5: Gender Equality.\u00a0[2<\/a>]\u00a0 Neither SDG is obtainable without the other, and feminist climate finance could play a critical role in reaching both.<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s lack of access to finance remains a barrier to effective climate action, and UN Women repeatedly called for \u201cincreased gender-focused climate finance at COP29.\u201d [3<\/a>]\u00a0 Climate change is not gender neutral, [4<\/a>]\u00a0 but COP29\u2019s talks were disappointing for women and girls globally. Despite the overwhelming evidence that the climate crisis disproportionately affects women and girls by exacerbating \u201cexisting gender inequalities\u201d and posing \u201cunique threats to their livelihoods, health, and safety,\u201d [5<\/a>]\u00a0 women\u2019s participation at COP29 did not reflect this reality. [6<\/a>] While 40% of parties\u2019 delegates were women\u2013\u2013 the highest percentage to date\u2013\u2013 executive-level representation was much lower. [7<\/a>]<\/p>\n

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development envisions \u201cthe achievement of formal and substantive equality for women.\u201d [8<\/a>] The international community cannot secure substantive gender equality until women have equal representation at all levels of participation, especially<\/i> at the level where they are part of the decision-making process. [9<\/a>] However, championing substantive gender equality comes with challenges. In attempting to make a secondary deal \u201cincluding a joint pledge to ensure climate action accounts for gender equality,\u201d the European Union reportedly walked out of negotiations in response to pushback from Saudi Arabia, the Vatican, and Russia. [10<\/a>] Despite the promise of sideline agreements, most COP outcomes are non-binding soft law. [11<\/a>] Still, they can act as important drivers (and political pressure) for enacting regional and domestic laws.<\/p>\n

II. Why Gender Equality is Key to Tackling the Climate Crisis\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Climate change acts as a \u201cthreat multiplier,\u201d as the climate crisis \u201cintensifies resource scarcity and worsens existing social, economic and environmental factors.\u201d<\/span> [12<\/a>] In the context of gender inequality, climate change increases the vulnerability of women and girls to displacement, gender-based violence, human trafficking, child marriage, worse maternal health, having to leave school to support their families, and more. [13<\/a>] Equally as critical and far less talked about is how women are environmental stewards, the backbone of resilience, and agents of change. [14<\/a>] For example, \u201cwomen are responsible for half the world\u2019s food production\u201d and produce as much as 80% of food in developing countries. [15<\/a>]<\/p>\n

Despite the recognition that women are essential for food security, they have less access to productive inputs like credit, land, and technology. [16<\/a>] Land tenure can strongly impact climate adaptation and management decisions, as greater control over land empowers owners to make climate smart decisions, [17<\/a>] but women often lack legal property rights. Studies show that if \u201cwomen had the same access to a range of resources as men, farm yields could increase by 20-30 per cent, feeding an additional 100 to 150 million people.\u201d [18<\/a>] Centering feminist climate finance at future COPs, \u201cwhich advocates for a complete transformation of the climate finance architecture,\u201d can move the international community closer to this ambitious goal. [19<\/a>]<\/p>\n

III. Feminist Climate Finance: A Lack of Gender Responsive-Action\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

While the \u201cdraft decision on climate finance [did] include a mention of gender,\u201d negotiators did not go far enough to \u201cpush for gender-responsive climate finance that is accessible to women-led grassroots organizations and feminist groups who are at the forefront of climate action.\u201d<\/span> [20<\/a>] Only 0.01% of global finance supports projects that address climate change and women\u2019s rights, [21<\/a>]\u00a0 meaning those at the forefront of climate resilience\u2013\u2013 especially Indigenous women\u2013\u2013 do not have access to \u201cthe financial services necessary to scale up their contributions.\u201d [22<\/a>]<\/p>\n

As the Women\u2019s Environment and Development Organization explains, feminist climate finance, which centers on challenging gender inequality rather than simply adding a gender dimension, ensures \u201cthat resources flow not only to reduce emissions but also to advance human rights and social justice.\u201d [23<\/a>]\u00a0Unlike climate projects without a gender lens, feminist climate finance centers on \u201cthe needs and priorities of local communities\u201d while challenging \u201cgender inequalities through participatory, inclusive processes.\u201d [24<\/a>]\u00a0Gender-responsive climate actions \u201care proven to be more efficient,\u201d [25<\/a>]\u00a0as increasing women\u2019s access to resources \u201ccan reduce vulnerability and create more resilient households and communities.\u201d [26<\/a>]<\/p>\n

Aligning with a more micro approach to international law,<\/span> [27<\/a>]\u00a0feminist climate finance provides a workaround to many of the COP outcomes, even those that effectively incorporate gender, being non-binding. By focusing on stakeholder engagement on individual and communal levels when enacting domestic law, feminist climate finance can better address gaps that often exist \u201cbetween the laws on the books and what occurs in practice.\u201d [28<\/a>]\u00a0A key part of feminist climate finance is guaranteeing grant-based funding flows \u201cdirectly to local groups, with flexible, core, and multi-year funding as the ideal to allow locally-led solutions to thrive.\u201d [29<\/a>]<\/p>\n

While COP29 was a missed opportunity to leverage feminist climate finance on the international stage, the success of gender-responsive funding largely hinges on how receiving countries simultaneously promote domestic legislation to bolster gender equality. Feminist climate finance achieves little in practice if women face significant legal roadblocks to productive inputs. However, operationalizing laws that promote women\u2019s economic inclusion, allowing them to maximize feminist climate finance, is too often overlooked. When enacting domestic legislation, governments should also prioritize \u201cthe development of implementing regulations and enforcement provisions through the justice system\u201d to \u201cguarantee rights and protections\u201d legislation aims to enshrine. [30<\/a>]<\/p>\n

Still, the responsibility of developed countries in mobilizing feminist climate finance cannot be understated. Developed countries would be apt to focus on regions especially vulnerable to climate change that are struggling to muster sufficient climate finance to meet their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. For example, while Sub-Saharan Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change, the region \u201conly mobilizes 3% of global climate flows.\u201d [31<\/a>]\u00a0Additionally, directing climate finance to women and girls in the most vulnerable regions is also critical to pursuing a just energy transition, as the African continent has only contributed to around 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. [32<\/a>]\u00a0A \u201csustainable, resilient and just energy transition path\u201d must include women and girls in design, execution, implementation, and evaluation. [33<\/a>]\u00a0Directing more climate finance funds to women and women-led organizations will do more to fight climate change than ignoring the gender dimension\u2013\u2013 and simultaneously tackle the existing inequality that the climate crisis widens.<\/p>\n

IV. Reimagining Women\u2019s Leadership for COP30: A Last Chance Effort\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

As world leaders reflect on COP29 and prepare for COP30, they should bear in mind that feminist climate finance \u201caddresses the climate crisis in a way that benefits everyone.\u201d<\/span> [34<\/a>] In gearing up for what has been deemed \u201cthe last chance to avoid an irreversible rupture in the climate system,\u201d [35<\/a>]\u00a0gender-responsive climate solutions, especially feminist climate finance, must be more than another agenda item. Before COP28, a report from the UNFCCC Standing Committee found that \u201cgender-responsive approaches increase the overall effectiveness of adaptation finance.\u201d [36<\/a>] And yet, Azerbaijan initially had an all-men committee. [37<\/a>]<\/p>\n

Only five women have been appointed as COP Presidents since COP1 1995, [38<\/a>]\u00a0but with Brazil\u2019s Environment Minister Marina Silvia already outlining ambitious plans for COP30, there is immense opportunity (and hope) for what next year\u2019s conference will hold for feminist climate finance and beyond. [39<\/a>]\u00a0With a woman at the decision-making table, in an Amazonian city for the first time, COP30 is the (last) time to change the narrative. To honor both critical aspects of COP30, countries should prioritize incorporating women at all levels of Party delegations, and actively seek out the perspectives of women from marginalized communities, especially indigenous women, in planning. International law, whether binding agreements or aspirational declarations must be created with\u2013\u2013 not for\u2013\u2013 those affected. Women\u2019s full, substantive equality in participation in future COP negotiations is not an option\u2013\u2013 it is requisite to tackling the climate crisis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n

[1<\/a>] @unwomen, Caption to Can You Spot the Women at #COP29?, UN Women (Nov. 13, 2024), https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/unwomen\/p\/DCVKKvxzyk9<\/a>\/.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>See The 17 Goals<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>The United Nations<\/span>, <\/span>https:\/\/sdgs.un.org\/goals<\/span><\/a> (last visited Nov. 23, 2024).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[3<\/a>] UN Women calls for increased gender-focused climate finance at COP29, UN Women (Nov. 21, 2024), https:\/\/www.unwomen.org\/en\/news-stories\/press-release\/2024\/11\/un-women-calls-for-increased-gender-focused-climate-finance-at-cop29<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[4<\/a>] Explainer: How gender inequality and climate change are interconnected, UN Women (Feb. 28, 2022), https:\/\/www.unwomen.org\/en\/news-stories\/explainer\/2022\/02\/explainer-how-gender-inequality-and-climate-change-are-interconnected<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[5<\/a>] Id.<\/p>\n

[6<\/a>]\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0See<\/span><\/i> COP29: What is at stake for gender equality as the second week of negotiations starts<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>UN Women<\/span> (Nov. 18, 2024), <\/span>https:\/\/www.unwomen.org\/en\/news-stories\/news\/2024\/11\/cop29-what-is-at-stake-for-gender-equality-as-the-second-week-of-negotiation-starts<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

[7<\/a>] Id.<\/p>\n

[8<\/a>]\u00a0Joanna Botha and Glancina Mokone, <\/span>Gender,<\/span><\/i> in <\/span><\/i>Ency. of Law and Dev.<\/span> 95, 96 (Koen De Feyter et al. eds., 2021).<\/span><\/p>\n

[9<\/a>] See generally Quick Analysis, Women\u2019s Env\u2019t Dev. Org. Gender Climate Tracker, https:\/\/genderclimatetracker.org\/participation-stats\/quick-analysis<\/a> (last visited Nov. 23, 2024).<\/p>\n

[10<\/a>] See Zia Weise and Sara Schonhardt, Petro-patriarchy and the pope: Saudis, Vatican lead women\u2019s rights backlash at COP29, Politico (Nov. 18, 2024, 4:35 PM CET), https:\/\/www.politico.eu\/article\/petro-patriarchy-pope-saudis-vatican-womens-rights-backlash-cop29-gender-equality-climate-change\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[11<\/a>] See e.g., Tarek El Sayed et al., Outcomes from COP28: What next to accelerate climate action?, McKinsey (Dec. 21, 2023), https:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/capabilities\/sustainability\/our-insights\/outcomes-from-cop28-what-next-to-accelerate-climate-action<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[12<\/a>] See Five ways the climate crisis impacts human security, The United Nations, https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/climatechange\/science\/climate-issues\/human-security<\/a> (last visited Jan. 8, 2025).<\/p>\n

[13<\/a>] See Explainer: How gender inequality and climate change are interconnected, supra note 4.<\/p>\n

[14<\/a>] See Why women are key to climate action, The United Nations, https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/climatechange\/science\/climate-issues\/women<\/a> (last visited Nov. 23, 2024).<\/p>\n

[15<\/a>] Id.<\/p>\n

[16<\/a>] Id.<\/p>\n

[17<\/a>] See e.g., How To Secure Land Tenure For Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption, Int\u2019l Land Coal., https:\/\/learn.landcoalition.org\/en\/resources\/secure-land-tenure-for-climate-change-mitigation-and-adaptation\/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CInsecure%20land%20tenure%20affects%20the,gravest%20threats%20facing%20the%20planet<\/a> (last visited Nov. 23, 2024).<\/p>\n

[18<\/a>] See Why women are key to climate action, supra note 14.<\/p>\n

[19<\/a>] Tara E. Daniel, The Pivotal Role of Gender Equality in Climate Finance, Women\u2019s Env\u2019t Dev. Org. (Sept. 27, 2024), https:\/\/wedo.org\/the-pivotal-role-of-gender-equality-in-climate-finance\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[20<\/a>] See COP29: What is at stake for gender equality as the second week of negotiations starts, supra note 6.<\/p>\n

[21<\/a>] Closing the Gap, Boosting Ambition: Investing in Women is Key to Climate Action, United Nations Climate Change (Mar. 8, 2024), https:\/\/unfccc.int\/news\/closing-the-gap-boosting-ambition-investing-in-women-is-key-to-climate-action<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[22<\/a>] UN Women calls for increased gender-focused climate finance at COP29, supra note 3.<\/p>\n

[23<\/a>] Daniel, supra note 19.<\/p>\n

[24<\/a>] Id.<\/p>\n

[25<\/a>] Closing the Gap, Boosting Ambition: Investing in Women is Key to Climate Action, supra note 21.<\/p>\n

[26<\/a>] What does gender equality have to do with climate change?, The United Nations Dev. Programme (Feb. 28, 2023), https:\/\/climatepromise.undp.org\/news-and-stories\/what-does-gender-equality-have-do-climate-change#:~:text=Giving%20women%20increased%20access%20to,benefit%20the%20needs%20of%20women<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[27<\/a>] See generally Katrin Kuhlmann, Micro International Law, Stanford J. Int\u2019l Law (forthcoming).<\/p>\n

[28<\/a>] See Emilia Galiano and Nisha Arekapudi, How can laws that promote women\u2019s economic inclusion be operationalized in practice?, The World Bank (July 16, 2021), https:\/\/blogs.worldbank.org\/en\/developmenttalk\/how-can-laws-promote-womens-economic-inclusion-be-operationalized-practice<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[29<\/a>] Daniel, supra note 19.<\/p>\n

[30<\/a>] See Galiano and Arekapudi, supra note 28.<\/p>\n

[31<\/a>] See Marc Schrjiver and Josue Banga, COP27: The African COP and the risk of a global U-turn to the Paris Agreement, The World Bank (Nov. 17, 2022), https:\/\/blogs.worldbank.org\/en\/africacan\/cop27-african-cop-and-risk-global-u-turn-paris-agreement<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[32<\/a>] Id.<\/p>\n

[33<\/a>] Ashutosh Singh and Atul Arya, One planet, two realities: Realizing energy transition in the Global South, S&P Global (Mar. 13, 2024), https:\/\/www.spglobal.com\/en\/research-insights\/special-reports\/look-forward\/one-planet-two-realities-realizing-energy-transition-in-the-global-south<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[34<\/a>] Daniel, supra note 19.<\/p>\n

[35<\/a>] Franci\u00e9li Barcellos, “COP30 will be our last chance to avoid an irreversible rupture in the climate system,” calls Lula at the final thematic session of the G20 Brasil Leaders’ Summit, G20 Brasil 2024 (Nov. 19, 2024, 11:19 AM), https:\/\/www.g20.org\/en\/news\/cop30-will-be-our-last-chance-to-avoid-an-irreversible-rupture-in-the-climate-system-calls-lula-at-the-final-thematic-session-of-the-g20-brasil-leaders-summit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[36<\/a>] Closing the Gap, Boosting Ambition: Investing in Women is Key to Climate Action, supra note 21.<\/p>\n

[37<\/a>] Nella Canales et al., The all-male Cop29 committee is a big step backwards for climate, Climate Homes News (Jan. 19, 2024, 2:04 PM), https:\/\/www.climatechangenews.com\/2024\/01\/19\/the-all-male-cop29-committee-is-a-big-step-backwards-for-climate\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[38<\/a>] Int\u2019l Gender Champions Podcast, Gender and Climate: Unveiling the Intersections, Int\u2019l Gender Champions, at 02:46 (Nov. 2, 2023), https:\/\/genderchampions.com\/news\/igc-podcast-gender-and-climate-change-unveiling-the-intersections<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[39<\/a>] See Marina Silva, of Brazil, speaks COP 30 success: \u2018Society and science are doing their part. Governments and companies are the ones who need to step up,\u2019 Nature 4 Climate (Nov. 11, 2024), https:\/\/nature4climate.org\/marina-silva-interview-cop30\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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