Gender – Knowledge Sharing Platform

On this International Women’s Day, we’ve put women-led and gender-responsive climate action in the spotlight.

Read on to find out how we can strengthen and increase women’s participation in climate solutions.

Photo Credit: Panos Pictures.

Today is International Women’s Day. To celebrate this important date, we invite you to reflect on the role of women in addressing climate change.

Women are often overlooked in climate policy, even though they are the ones suffering the most from the consequences of climate change.

According to UN Women:

“The climate crisis is not “gender neutral”. Women and girls experience the greatest impacts of climate change, which amplifies existing gender inequalities and poses unique threats to their livelihoods, health, and safety.”

How can we ensure that women and girls take part in climate-related decisions that produce effective and inclusive solutions to climate change?

To answer this question, we listed below three ways that could help improve gender-responsive and women-led climate action.

Implement community-led and gender-responsive climate solutions.

Encouraging women’s participation and women-led climate solutions results in better, more efficient, and inclusive outcomes.

In many rural communities, for instance, women are responsible for collecting water for their families and, over the years, have gained a unique understanding of changes to rainfall patterns, as well as water harvesting and storage.

These women are uniquely placed to inform adaptation strategies and develop tailored and inclusive solutions.

Access to tailored financial resources and resource management.

Women manage households and account for a big chunk of the labor force. Nonetheless, they often find themselves without the means to provide for themselves and their families, or without the right incentives to do so.

In Côte d’Ivoire, for example, women account for 70% of the agricultural sector but own only 3% of the land they cultivate. This UN Women project in the country has empowered Ivorian women to increase their incomes through improved efficiency and greater agricultural output.

By providing them with the right resources, including financial ones, they can build more tailored and climate-resilient communities, greatly contributing to climate adaptation and mitigation.

Climate action for all.

Investments in gender-inclusive climate action have far-reaching, society-wide benefits, such as environmental conservation and poverty reduction.

As the UNFCCC put it:

“By tackling climate change with a gender lens, we can also address women’s rights and promote greater gender equality.”

Women play a key role in building climate-resilient societies.

Interested in learning more about the interlinkages between gender and climate change on International Women’s Day?

Take our free gender-related e-courses.

Wadley B. Michel is a project technician at the Unité d’Études et de Programmation of the Ministry of the Environment in Haiti. Her role is to contribute to the design, planning and implementation of environmental projects, ensuring that gender aspects and environmental impacts are effectively taken into account.

Enrolling on the Gender and Environment course has enabled me to deepen my knowledge in these crucial areas and convinced me that understanding the link between gender and the environment is essential for designing effective and inclusive projects. The platform offers a valuable opportunity to acquire in-depth knowledge and practical tools for tackling these complex challenges holistically.

In March 2023, as a project technician at the Unité d’Études et de Programmation of the Ministry of the Environment in Haiti, Wadley took part in a training course on climate change financing and budgeting, organized by the Ministry’s Climate Change Directorate. This opportunity arose at a time when her Director was considering giving her new responsibilities focusing on the integration of gender and environmental impacts into sectoral projects and interventions. This prospect excited her, especially as she already had training in Environmental Assessment of Development Policies and Projects.

The training offered by the UN CC:Learn platform took Wadley by surprise, highlighting the close link between financing issues and climate change. It opened her eyes to an often overlooked dimension of environmental challenges: the differentiated impact of climate change on different segments of society, particularly according to gender. She realized that, to tackle these challenges effectively, it is essential to take into account the social, economic and cultural dimensions that influence the perception and reaction of individuals and communities to climate change.

Equipped with my new knowledge and my certificate, I was able to take on my new professional responsibilities with confidence.

Workshop on women’s participation in Belle-Anse community structures

At the same time, Wadley also had the opportunity to reflect on her role as an agent of change in her community. She realized that even the smallest individual actions can have a significant impact when they are part of a collective movement for sustainability. In Haiti, where the consequences of climate change are still being felt and the issue of gender equality is still emerging, she feels fortunate to be able to support these two major struggles for her community. She feels she has found her calling.

As a consultant, she carried out a gender diagnosis on women’s participation in community structures in Belle-Anse for Alianza, a non-governmental organization, as part of their project “Strengthening community resilience and ecological transition” (2023-2026), funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). Since then, she has continued to seek out training opportunities in gender and climate change, as these are two great causes close to her heart.

I have also created an educational platform “GenderEquiTalk” which was born out of my desire to share my knowledge and raise awareness among the Haitian public of the problems and solutions linked to gender equality so that we can build a more just and equitable society, because even the most modest individual actions can have a significant impact when they are part of a collective movement in favor of sustainability.

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*The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the United Nations or any of its affiliated organizations.

Hannah Townley has always had a unique blend of passions and expertise, seamlessly integrating her background as an academic feminist security researcher and environmental justice organizer. Now, working as a contractor in the USA, she supports earth data and observation operations to maximize the use and benefit of these operations for both science and society. Her journey, however, reveals a story of intersecting interests and unwavering dedication to sustainable development and gender equity. Hannah’s climate story begins in rural Florida, where her love for the outdoors and her family’s farming instilled in her a deep connection to nature. During college, she became a fervent advocate for immigrants’ rights, organizing and researching for farmworkers’ rights.

This experience highlighted to me the critical link between climate action and environmental justice, underscoring the necessity for intersectional research that combines science with community experiences to create comprehensive models for sustainability.”

As she delved deeper into feminist security studies, Hannah enjoyed her work but hadn’t yet fully explored the overlap between gender and climate action in advancing sustainable development goals. Her transition to working as a contractor and project coordinator seemed like a move toward climate security, temporarily sidelining her gender-focused work. That changed when she discovered the UN CC:Learn platform and its courses on integrating a gender perspective into climate action.

These courses were transformative for me, helping me articulate the importance of a gender perspective in my work, especially in identifying data inequities.”

Hannah and her team as part of their work on transforming Earth data from satellite collections to the actionable insights used by communities. (Hannah is second from right)

Working with environmental data, Hannah recognized the need to understand not only earth science impacts but also their socioeconomic consequences. By adopting a data-feminist approach, she could better grasp how crises, such as those caused by climate change, affect different genders differently and create gender-sensitive solutions. This approach became pivotal in her current role and her volunteer work with the Surfrider Foundation, where she continued her activism for climate and environmental justice. This fall, Hannah began a Master’s of Public Policy with a concentration in human security policy. She aims to center human rights discussions in a field often focused on “grand strategy,” driving policy solutions that meet Sustainable Development Goals. Her graduate research will revisit and expand upon her undergraduate thesis, which modeled how violence against women contributed to democratic backsliding in Mexico. She now seeks to study how climate crises exacerbate gendered violence and democratic backsliding, emphasizing climate change mitigation policy as a multiplier for sustainable development across multiple sectors. Through her academic pursuits and continued community organizing, Hannah Townley aspires to be a force for good in the sustainability policy sector.

I believe that to address the climate crisis effectively, our approach must be truly interdisciplinary.”

Her journey from rural Florida to graduate school showcases her commitment to integrating gender and climate perspectives in addressing global challenges. Her work exemplifies the power of intersectional research and advocacy in creating resilient, equitable, and sustainable futures for all.

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Join Hannah and hundreds of students and start learning today:

*The views expressed in this story are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the United Nations or any of its affiliated organizations.

Afifa Tajrin, an Electrical Engineer and green energy enthusiast from Bangladesh embarked on a journey that seamlessly blended her technical expertise with a commitment to sustainability. With a B.Sc. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology and a master’s in Development Studies from the University of Dhaka, Afifa’s academic background set a strong foundation for her future endeavors. During her postgraduate studies,

Afifa conducted research on the challenges young women face in employment, an experience that deepened her understanding of gender disparities and the importance of equitable practices. Her professional path then led her to contribute to development projects aimed at promoting workplace safety in the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) industry, where she gained valuable insights into the intersection of industry practices and social responsibility. 

Afifa’s commitment to advancing green practices was further solidified through her participation in the Green Industry Summer School – 2nd Cohort, organized by UNIDO and PAGE in 2022. This experience led her to enroll in the Green Industry Policy course at UN CC: Learn, where she gained critical insights into the dynamics of green economy and the urgency of addressing climate change. She said,

the course proved to be a pivotal moment in my career, unveiling the crucial role of policy in shaping a sustainable future and highlighting the effectiveness of green industrial policy tools.

In addition, she explained that

this newfound awareness sparked my interest in energy efficiency and ESG principles, ultimately leading to my certification as an ISO 50001:2018 Energy Management Systems Lead Auditor.

This certification not only enhanced her expertise but also inspired her entrepreneurial spirit. In 2021, she co-founded ‘ReGear,’ a startup focused on providing energy management services and promoting green energy solutions. With a renewed sense of purpose, Afifa’s work with ReGear became a beacon of energy efficiency and innovation. The startup introduced several initiatives, including a mobile app-based energy management system, to enhance energy efficiency in industrial and residential settings. Additionally, Afifa’s dedication to practical solutions led her to conceptualize a solar-powered cold storage solution for marginalized farmers, empowering them to preserve their harvests and secure fair market prices.

Afifa’s achievements did not go unnoticed. She excelled in the ‘Shoktikonna’ green energy transition leadership program for STEM women in Bangladesh, where she emerged as a top performer.

My social media blog, inspired by the knowledge gained from UN CC: Learn, became a platform for advocating climate action and highlighting the urgency of implementing effective strategies to mitigate the climate crisis.

Through her innovative work and advocacy, Afifa Tajrin exemplifies how a blend of technical expertise, entrepreneurial vision, and commitment to sustainability can drive meaningful change. Her journey reflects a deep dedication to advancing green energy solutions. Through her electrical system design and safety training programs, she has been enhancing the technical capabilities of professionals working in the renewable energy sector in Bangladesh. Since last year, she has delivered training to over 100 diploma engineers, electricians, and maintenance personnel who are involved in solar system and utility installation projects.

I am currently working on a gender study aimed at understanding the barriers and possibilities for women in STEM in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, women have very little participation in climate-related development action. I am committed to using this research to identify strategies for increasing their participation in these crucial initiatives.

Start your learning journey:

Join Afifa and hundreds of students and start learning today:

*The views expressed in this story are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the United Nations or any of its affiliated organizations.

Two women smiling, looking at each other, in front of their computers.

Our new e-course, developed in collaboration with C40 and with the support of Fondation L’Oréal, inspires and equips women with the skills needed to lead inclusive and effective climate initiatives.

Read on to find out more about the course.

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and women are uniquely positioned to drive the innovative, inclusive solutions needed to address this global crisis. The “Developing Skills for Women Leadership in Climate Action” e-course is a comprehensive 9-hour e-course designed to inspire and equip women and girls with the leadership skills necessary to lead just and effective climate initiatives.

In four modules, the e-course introduces learners to the most up-to-date understanding of climate science while offering practical tools and strategies to help them implement inclusive and equitable climate actions. You’ll learn how to develop, plan, and execute climate projects that prioritize social justice and inclusivity, ensuring that your initiatives benefit all members of the community.

The course was developed by UNITAR and C40 with the exclusive support of the Fondation L’Oréal, and with knowledge contributions from Columbia Climate School and CARE France. It’s available in English, French, and Spanish.

Learn more about it below.

What will you learn?

Explain what is climate change and define key elements of inclusive climate action.
Discuss the impact of climate change on women and the role they play at the heart of climate action.
Identify opportunities and plan effective climate action.
Discuss approaches for influencing others and gaining support for your climate actions.

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for everyone, but particularly women and girls, who would like to develop key leadership skills and access a rich base of knowledge on climate action rooted in inclusivity and equity

Will you get a certificate?

Anyone who completes the course will be granted an official UN certificate of completion.

To obtain the certificate, learners need to go through all course videos, readings, and activities, as well as pass all course quizzes with a grade of 70% or higher.

Take the course today in English, French, or Spanish.

The ‘Women Leadership in Climate Action’ e-course aims to inspire women and girls, strengthen their leadership skills, and help them deliver the just climate initiatives needed to tackle the climate crisis.

If you are concerned about climate change, if it’s already affecting you, or if you thought about taking action but felt you lacked power or knowledge: this course is for you. It empowers and educates emerging climate leaders like you to deliver climate actions rooted in the principles of inclusivity and equity.

Enroll

Gender

Self-paced course

12 hours

Why take this course?

The ‘Developing Skills for Women Leadership in Climate Action’ online course was created to support women and girls to develop their leadership skills and take on green and just climate actions. By the end of this course, you will have a good understanding of key topics related to climate change science and inclusive climate action. You will also be equipped with actionable tools that will help you lift your climate ideas off the ground or strengthen the existing project you are working on.

We look forward to accompanying you through this inclusive climate leadership journey and learning more about you, your motivations and your plans for climate action! After completing the course, you will be able to:

Explain what is climate change and define key elements of inclusive climate action.
Discuss the impact of climate change on women and the role they play at the heart of climate action.
Identify opportunities and plan effective climate action.
Discuss approaches for influencing others and gaining support for your climate actions.

Course Overview

The course consists of 4 modules, each taking approximately 2,5 hours to complete. Modules 1 and 2, introduce learners to the most up-to-date understanding of climate science and zoom in on innovative approaches aimed at mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change while reducing social inequalities. This baseline of knowledge prepares learners for modules 3 and 4, which provide actionable tools to help learners create inclusive and equitable projects on the ground. The 5th wrap-up section of the course provides useful guidance and tools for the development of your climate project.

Introduction to Climate Change and Inclusive Climate Action
Women at the Heart of Climate Action
Taking the Lead on Inclusive Climate Action
Influencing Change while Staying Resilient
Course wrap-up

Get your Certificate

After completing the course you will be granted a certificate.

To obtain your certificate, you need to complete all course videos, readings, and activities, as well as pass all course quizzes with a grade of 70% or higher.

You can keep track of your progress and download your certificate under the “Certification” tab on the main course page.

Training participants posing happily for a picture.

From 7 to 11 August 2023, UNITAR delivered a training on gender and climate change to civil servants in Kigali, Rwanda, the first one developed in the framework of the One UNITAR Gender Initiative.

Read on to find out more about the training.

“The land of a thousand hills” – this statement is no exaggeration to the undulating landscape of Rwanda. The hills were also a welcoming sight for UNITAR’s pilot training on gender and climate change, organized in collaboration with the Gender Monitoring Office of Rwanda and CIFAL Kigali with support from the Ministry of Environment under the One UNITAR Gender initiative. The One UNITAR Gender promotes innovative learning solutions on women’s empowerment, building on extensive experiences and knowledge of all UNITAR divisions.

Participants at the training in a meeting room.

The training, held from 7 – 11 August 2023 at the CIFAL Kigali centre, aimed to build capacities of a mix of participants drawn from government institutions including the Gender Monitoring Office, Rwanda Environment Management Authority, Rwanda Standards Board, National Institute of Statistics, Rwanda Green Fund (FONERWA), Ministry of Environment, Rwanda Cooperation and civil society organizations including Action Aid and ADEPE. The focus of the training was on climate change and the interlinkage with gender equality and women’s empowerment. Climate change as a threat multiplier can deepen existing gender inequalities. Rwanda’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) aims to “promote and encourage the mainstreaming of gender considerations in climate change issues” including the capturing and reporting of gender disaggregated data. Ensuring that institutions like the Gender Monitoring Office that are mandated with monitoring gender related commitments within Rwanda’s ratified policies across sectors have the capacity to not only understand climate change impacts and differentiated effects on people but also on how climate policies can be made gender-responsive – from policy design to monitoring and evaluation.

A participant and Ms. Lisa Main, from UNITAR.

Rwanda is a leader in the African continent on advancing women’s participation in decision-making, with nearly two thirds of its parliamentary seats and 52 per cent of cabinet positions held by women. Women in Rwanda are also leading the charge when it comes to climate action, with examples from community-level champions to trailblazers at national and international levels. This training was a step towards enabling Rwanda’s climate policies to be gender-responsive and that a multi-institutional approach is taken towards their development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The end-goal is to ensure that climate policies speak to the realities of frontline communities and vulnerable groups and that Leaving No One Behind is not just a principle, but a practice.

Neeshad Shafi took the Intro Course on Climate Change and founded the first and only not-for-profit environmental organization registered in the State of Qatar. His NGO strives to protect the environment while giving equal opportunities to women and the youth. Read his full story below!

When one thinks about climate change action, Qatar is not really the first place that comes to mind. But Neeshad Shafi, founder of the Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar, is changing that. As a student, Neeshad wanted to better understand climate science and advocacy, which led him to discover UN CC:Learn and its platform with free e-courses. He set out to complete the “Introductory e-Course on Climate Change” and successfully completed the course in 2015. The knowledge acquired in the course laid out the groundwork for his future endeavor: founding the Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar (AYCMQ), the single not-for-profit environmental organization registered in the State of Qatar.

AYCMQ is a youth-led NGO building a movement that fosters understanding of the natural ecosystems and empowers the community to act. It does that by raising environmental awareness at grassroots level and by targeting youth and adults with tailored activities, helping to promote active participation in dialogue and in finding solutions.

AYCMQ’s values are also rooted in gender equality. For instance, more than half of its team members are women and so are most of the participants who take part in the organization’s activities, which is something remarkable everywhere but especially in a Gulf country.

“At AYCM Qatar we are founded on the presciple of gender equality. More then 50% of our team comprises of women members and we have always given up most space for women and youth girls in various programs of ours.” – Neeshad Shafi, 2022 UN CC:Learn Champion

Joe Mari Francisco is the Philippines’ National Gender Focal Point to the UNFCCC. His engagement with gender and climate change started in 2018 when he completed UN CC:Learn courses that shed a light on the interlinkages between the two topics. Read on to discover his inspiring story.

Gender equality and climate action are intertwined topics that are increasingly being addressed together. Joe Mari S. Francisco, technical officer of the of Philippines’ Climate Change Commission and National Gender Focal Point of the Philippines to the UNFCCC, agrees with it and has been tasked with mainstreaming gender across the Philippines’ NDC. Joe Mari took the Open Online Course on Gender and Environment and the Introductory e-Course on Climate Change back in 2018 to better understand climate change and its implications on gender. He successfully completed both courses and, among other things, discovered the interlinkages between climate change and gender. This newly acquired knowledge contributed to him being appointed to support the development of a gender responsive NDC for the Philippines.

Since 2018, he has carried out gender and climate change audits of his organization, produced a Gender Analysis and added technical inputs to the NDC, and been appointed as the National Gender Focal Point to the UNFCCC. Moreover, Joe Maris has been able to raise awareness of gender and climate change among his peers in the Commission and this has been reflected in the mainstreaming of gender across the Commission’s internal and external processes.

Currently, he’s part of the team developing the Philippines’ NDC Gender Action Plan which aims to implement gender responsive NDC policies and measures for Filipino women, men, and LGBT+.

Joe Mari’s contributions can be found on the National Integrated Climate Change Database and Information Technology.

His knowledge of gender and climate change opened opportunities on different fronts as well. For instance, he has been invited to deliver several national and international presentations on Gender and Climate Change to share the Philippine’s experiences on integrating gender in climate actions.

“I think the knowledge I got from the courses on UN CC :e-Learn helped me to fulfil my tasks as one of National Gender Focal Point of the Philippines to the UNFCCC.” – Joe Mari S. Francisco. 2022 UN CC:Learn Champion

In May 2022, the UNITAR Green Development and Climate Change Programme (GCP) team, under which UN CC:Learn is hosted, took part in a week-long training on gender with the purpose of learning more about this imperative topic to further mainstream it across its projects and activities.

Read on to find out more about this enriching experience!

UNITAR has made targeted efforts to mainstream gender equality and the empowerment of women and leaving no one behind, two of the guiding principles of the Sustainable Development Goals, at an institutional and programmatic level. From development of online courses (Gender and the Environment, Gender Equality and Human Rights in Climate Action and Renewable Energy) to institutional frameworks and guidelines on the integration of gender in projects. However, taking a deeper inward look, the Green Development and Climate Change Programme (GCP) team of UNITAR reflected on its own approach to gender mainstreaming and inclusion in its work.

Attitude and behavioural shifts start internally…

In an effort to strengthen internal capacity on inclusion, gender equality and women’s empowerment, a gender training was organized over the course of 5 days from 23 – 27 May 2022 in Geneva. The training was specifically tailored to speak to the context of gender equality and inclusion in GCP’s work on green development and climate change learning while also discussing the fundamentals of gender equality and inclusion (key terms, tools and approaches). The sessions utilised a varied approach with group work exercises, role plays, case studies, videos, mock interviews, practical sessions and check-ins.

UNITAR Executive Director, Mr. Nikhil Seth, highlighted the training as an essential initiative to elevate gender and inclusion within programmes and projects of GCP. It was also an opportune time as the training coincided with the beginning of the new phase of the UN CC:Learn programme and provided a chance to ensure interventions are indeed gender-responsive and contribute to the goal set out in the Theory of Change.

UNITAR Executive Director, Nikhil Seth (centre), opening the gender training

It is no longer enough to say gender equality and inclusion are important, we need to go beyond to practical action to reflect approaches that improve the condition and position of women and girls in all areas of our work. – UNITAR Executive Director, Nikhil Seth

Over the course of the week, the team dissected gender, intersectionality and a human rights-based approach drawing from personal and professional experiences, enriching the discussions and exercises. The approach to the training was highly practical and engaging, a safe space where colleagues could raise all sorts of questions, demystify misconceptions and assumptions around gender equality and inclusion and come up with creative and applicable ways to better address gender issues in a more proactive and systematic manner. Looking at GCP’s programme of work and partners, the aim was to identify opportunities and entry points to integrate and advocate for gender equality and inclusion. There were also dedicated one-on-one sessions where colleagues consulted with the gender expert on specific areas to integrate gender equality within their work; from gender-responsive communication, gender in green economy and e-learning and integration in youth engagement work.

GCP team in a mock interview exercise during the gender training

Aside from the technical content, the training also served as an informal team building session as it was the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic forced people to work from home, that the team had congregated and reacquainted in person.

GCP team filling out an exercise sheets during the gender training

With all that was learned throughout the week, there was a sense of invigoration among the team to ensure deliberate and conscious steps are taken to integrating gender equality and inclusion in all areas of work within climate change learning.

Three Ways to Ramp-up Women-led Climate Action.

Implement community-led and gender-responsive climate solutions.

Access to tailored financial resources and resource management.

Climate action for all.

Advocacy for Gender Equality and Climate Resilience in Haiti

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How One Advocate Brings Gender and Climate Justice to Earth Data

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Women Engineers at the Forefront of the Green Transition

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Harness Your Leadership Potential with the Developing Skills for Women Leadership in Climate Action

What will you learn?

Who is this course for?

Will you get a certificate?

Developing Skills for Women Leadership in Climate Action

Why take this course?

Course Overview

Get your Certificate

UNITAR delivers its first training on Gender and Climate Change in Rwanda

Engaging Youth People to Advance Climate Action in QATAR

Mainstreaming Gender across Climate Action in the Philippines

UN CC:Learn Gender and Climate Change Week

Attitude and behavioural shifts start internally…