The Commonwealth Secretariat has launched a new best practice guide integrating gender equality into national climate action.
Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, unveiled the publication during a side event co-organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat & SLYCAN Trust in the margins of the UN Climate Change Conference COP27 in Egypt.
READ: The Commonwealth at COP27
The “Gender Integration in Nationally Determined Contributions: A Commonwealth Best Practice Guide” includes evidence-based approaches to incorporate gender equality within a country’s national climate plans, or ‘Nationally Determined Contributions’ (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
The aim is to ensure the engagement of all sections of society – including women – as positive agents of change, and to include them in all aspects of climate action, from decision-making to implementation across the 56 Commonwealth nations.
“The Commonwealth has firmly committed to gender equality and youth empowerment through the Declaration on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment 2021-2030,” said Scotland.
“This year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting reaffirmed the commitment to driving inclusive, gender sensitive and gender responsive climate mitigation and adaptation initiatives.
“I encourage you to utilise this resource, as we strive toward improving integration of gender in NDCs as the bedrock for successful climate action.”
The best practice guide covers five key sections:
- Policy alignment and clarity of intent;
- financing gender expertise and gender budgeting;
- skills for a gender-just transition;
- evidencing a gender-just transition;
- and institutional collaboration.
Each section covers practical steps to facilitate the integration of gender into countries’ NDCs, along with a wide range of examples of best practices from across the Commonwealth to support learning and knowledge-sharing.
The new guide also details the Commonwealth’s progress under each best practice area and identifies room for further support through initiatives, such as the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub.
Law Ministers gathered to set clear directions on a range of legal, rule of law and justice issues.
