Gender Mandates in Climate Policy

The Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement,

Recalling the framework for non-market approaches to sustainable development referred to in Article 6, paragraph 9, of the Paris Agreement,

Also recalling the tenth preambular paragraph of the Paris Agreement that takes into account the imperatives of a just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs in accordance with nationally defined development priorities,

Further recalling the eleventh preambular paragraph of the Paris Agreement, acknowledging that climate change is a common concern of humankind, Parties should, when taking action to address climate change, respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on human rights, the right to health, the rights of indigenous peoples, local communities, migrants, children, persons with disabilities and people in vulnerable situations and the right to development, as well as gender equality, empowerment of women and intergenerational equity,

Recalling the objective, referred to in decision 1/CP.21, paragraph 39, of the work programme under the framework for non-market approaches referred to in Article 6, paragraph 8, of the Paris Agreement,

Recognizing that the work programme is to be implemented in the context of the Paris Agreement in its entirety, including its preamble, 

Annex

Work programme under the framework for non-market approaches referred to in Article 6, paragraph 8, of the Paris Agreement

I. Principles

1. The following principles, in addition to the elements reflected in Article2 6, paragraphs 8–9, and decision 1/CP.21, paragraph 39, guide the implementation of the framework for non-market approaches (NMAs) referred to in Article 6, paragraph 9, and the work programme under the framework referred to in decision 1/CP.21, paragraph 39:

(a) The framework:

(i) Facilitates the use and coordination of NMAs in the implementation of Parties’ nationally determined contributions (NDCs) in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication;

(ii) Enhances linkages and creates synergies between, inter alia, mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology development and transfer, and capacity-building, while avoiding duplication of the efforts under the framework with the work of the subsidiary and constituted bodies under the Convention and the Paris Agreement, taking into account the mandates of these bodies;

(b) NMAs facilitated under the framework represent:

(i) Voluntary cooperative actions that are not reliant on market-based approaches and that do not include transactions or quid pro quo operations;

(ii) Integrated, innovative and transformational actions that have significant potential to deliver higher mitigation and adaptation ambitions;

(iii) Actions that support the implementation of NDCs of Parties hosting NMAs (hereinafter referred to as host Parties) and contribute to achieving the long-term temperature goal of the Paris Agreement;

(c) The work programme, consistent with its objective referred to in decision 1/CP.21, paragraph 39, aims to identify measures to facilitate NMAs and enhance linkages and create synergies as referred to in paragraph 1(a) above.

II. Non-market approaches under the framework

2. Each NMA facilitated under the framework, in the context of Article 6, paragraph 8:

(a) Aims to:

(i) Promote mitigation and adaptation ambition;

(ii) Enhance participation of public and private sector and civil society organizations in the implementation of NDCs; and

(iii) Enable opportunities for coordination across instruments and relevant institutional arrangements;

(b) Assists participating Parties in implementing their NDCs in an integrated, holistic and balanced manner, including through, inter alia:

(i) Mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology development and transfer, and capacity-building, as appropriate; (ii) Contribution to sustainable development and poverty eradication.

3. In addition, each NMA facilitated under the framework:

(a) Is identified by the participating Parties on a voluntary basis;

(b) Involves more than one participating Party;

(c) Does not involve the transfer of any mitigation outcomes;

(d) Facilitates the implementation of NDCs of host Parties and contributes to achieving the long-term temperature goal of the Paris Agreement;

(e) Is conducted in a manner that respects, promotes and considers respective obligations of Parties on human rights, the right to health, the rights of indigenous peoples, local communities, migrants, children, persons with disabilities and people in vulnerable situations and the right to development, as well as gender equality, empowerment of women and intergenerational equity, consistent with the eleventh preambular paragraph of the Paris Agreement;

(f) Minimizes and, where possible, avoids negative environmental, economic and social impacts.

The Conference of the Parties,
Recalling decisions 2/CP.17, 1/CP.21, 2/CP.22, 16/CP.22, 16/CP.23, 15/CP.24, 8/CP.25 and 12/CP.26,

1. Welcomes the annual technical progress report of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building for 2022 and takes note of the recommendations therein;

2. Invites Parties, as appropriate, the operating entities of the Financial Mechanism, the constituted bodies under the Convention, United Nations organizations, observers and other stakeholders to consider the recommendations referred to in paragraph 1 above and to take any necessary action, as appropriate and in accordance with their mandates;

3. Acknowledges the progress of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building in delivering on its mandate to address gaps and needs, both current and emerging, in implementing capacity-building in developing country Parties and further enhancing capacity-building efforts, including with regard to coherence and coordination of capacity-building activities under the Convention;

4. Also acknowledges the progress of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building in implementing its workplan for 2021–2024 on the basis of the priority areas and activities set out in the annex to decision 9/CP.25;

5. Welcomes the new monitoring and evaluation framework of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building, as well as the findings from the monitoring and evaluation of the outputs, outcomes, and impact and effectiveness of its workplan activities between September 2021 and July 2022;

6. Also welcomes the work of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building in relation to enhancing coherence and coordination of capacity-building activities under the Convention, including its collaboration with constituted bodies and other stakeholders in this regard;

7. Further welcomes the continued collaboration of the Paris Committee on Capacity- building with Parties and non-Party stakeholders on capacity-building for climate action, as well as on addressing cross-cutting issues, including human rights, gender responsiveness, youth, Action for Climate Empowerment and indigenous peoples’ knowledge, such as through the PCCB Network, the informal coordination group for capacity-building under the Convention and the Paris Agreement, the Durban Forum on capacity-building, the Capacity- building Hub and social media outreach;

8. Takes note of the 2023 focus area of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building of capacity-building support for adaptation, with a focus on addressing gaps and needs related to formulating and implementing national adaptation plans;

9. Notes that capacity gaps and needs still exist in developing countries pertaining to the implementation of the Convention;

10. Invites Parties and relevant institutions, as appropriate, to provide support and resources to the Paris Committee on Capacity-building for implementing its workplan for 2021–2024 in the light of the aim of the Committee established in decision 1/CP.21.

The Conference of the Parties,

Recalling Article 2 of the Convention,

Also recalling decision 2/CP.17, paragraphs 75–77,

Further recalling decision 4/CP.23,

Recognizing the fundamental priority of safeguarding food security and ending hunger, and the particular vulnerabilities of food production systems to the adverse impacts of climate change,

Also recognizing that the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and other global challenges has exposed the limited resilience of global food systems to the adverse impacts of climate change and the limited progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and ensuring food security,

Acknowledging that the increasing frequency of extreme weather events has exposed millions of people, especially small-scale farmers, those from low-income households, indigenous peoples, women and youth in developing countries, to acute food and water insecurity and that, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, more than 800 million people face hunger every year, a figure set to increase as a consequence of climate change,

Highlighting that farmers, including smallholders and pastoralists, are stewards of the land and are inclined to apply sustainable land management approaches, and acknowledging that their vulnerability to climate change presents a challenge in fulfilling this important role and that policy responses in agriculture are more likely to succeed if they consider the role of farmers as key agents of change,

Also highlighting that each food production system has its own challenges and that solutions must be context-specific and take into account national circumstances, especially if they are to be scaled up,

1. Welcomes the progress of and outcomes achieved by the subsidiary bodies in jointly addressing issues related to agriculture and the Koronivia road map;

2. Takes note of the following recommendations on the different workshop reports under the Koronivia joint work on agriculture identified and agreed in conclusions of the subsidiary bodies, recognizing that related policies and their implementation are context-specific and take into account national circumstances:

(a) Recognized that information provided during the workshops and in the workshop reports and other information provides a mapping of activities and mandates of UNFCCC constituted bodies;

(b) Encouraged the continued involvement of constituted bodies and financing entities in the Koronivia joint work on agriculture, highlighting the potential for creating interlinkages that lead to enhanced action and improvements in implementation;

(c) Recognized that some modalities for implementation already exist and invited Parties to scale up implementation;

(d) Also recognized the importance of the continued involvement of scientific and technical knowledge in transforming the agriculture sector, enabling conditions, the crucial role of farmers, youth, local communities and indigenous peoples, including gender considerations, and of meeting the needs of farmers and food systems;

(e) Welcomed the presentation made by the Green Climate Fund on its work on issues relating to agriculture, and welcomed the subsequent clarification by the secretariat of the process for Parties to submit their views to the Standing Committee on Finance, in line with existing procedures, on elements to be taken into account in developing guidance for the operating entities of the Financial Mechanism;

(f) Recognized that various tools are available for assessing and monitoring adaptation and its co-benefits, but existing tools could benefit from further adjustment and new tools could be developed for country-specific circumstances, while taking into consideration the importance of sharing best practices among countries and other stakeholders and the important role of science, technology and capacity-building in facilitating data collection and adaptation assessment;

(g) Also recognized that issues relating to soil carbon, soil health and soil fertility, as well as sustainable soil and integrated water management, are context-specific and, taking into account countries’ circumstances, should be dealt with in a holistic and inclusive manner to realize the full potential of increased productivity in contributing to food security, adaptation and adaptation co-benefits as well as enhancing carbon sinks;

(h) Further recognized that soil and nutrient management practices and the optimal use of nutrients, including organic fertilizer and enhanced manure management, lie at the core of climate-resilient, sustainable food production systems and can contribute to global food security;

(i) Recognized that livestock management systems are very vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and that sustainably managed livestock systems have high adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change while playing broad roles in safeguarding food and nutrition security, livelihoods, sustainability, nutrient cycling and carbon management;

(j) Noted that improving sustainable production and animal health, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the livestock sector while enhancing sinks on pasture and grazing land, can contribute to achieving long-term climate objectives, taking into account different systems and national circumstances;

(k) Recognized that socioeconomic and food security dimensions are critical when dealing with climate change in agriculture and food systems;

(l) Also recognized the fundamental priority of safeguarding food security and ending hunger by designing sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural systems, applying a systemic approach in line with the long-term global climate objectives, further recognizing the importance of long-term investment in agriculture focused on this objective;

(m) Noted the importance of scaling up support to enhance action on safeguarding food and nutrition security and ending hunger, aiming for inclusive, sustainable and climateresilient agricultural systems, taking into consideration the vulnerability of agriculture to the impacts of climate change;

(n) Recognized the need to improve the enabling environment for mobilizing resources for implementing action at the local, national and international level;

(o) Noted the importance of considering sustainable land and water management for agriculture in a systemic and integrated manner informed by scientific, local and indigenous knowledge implemented in a participatory and inclusive manner and taking into consideration regional, national and local circumstances to deliver a range of multiple benefits, where applicable, such as adaptation, adaptation co-benefits and mitigation, to ensure food security and nutrition;

(p) Highlighted ‘no regrets’ options, such as those mentioned in the workshop reports and avoiding maladaptation;

(q) Noted that implementing sustainable approaches can render multiple benefits for society, such as improved water quality, higher biodiversity and increased soil organic matter, and also noted the value of incorporating diversification, recycling and efficiency, and supporting synergies within agricultural systems;

(r) Recognized the importance of increased access to international resources, such as finance, capacity-building and technology development and transfer, from a variety of sources to implement these approaches;

(s) Recognized the need to scale up the implementation of best practices, innovations and technologies that increase resilience and sustainable production in agricultural systems according to national circumstances in an inclusive and participatory way that includes farmers, pastoralists, indigenous peoples, local and vulnerable communities, women and youth and is informed by scientific, local, and indigenous knowledge;

(t) Noted that many approaches with high potential for adaptation, adaptation cobenefits and mitigation relate to land and food systems, such as conserving and restoring ecosystems, improving sustainability of agricultural practices and reducing food loss and waste from sustainable food systems, and have significant positive direct and indirect links with biodiversity and ecosystem services, food security and the Sustainable Development Goals;

(u) Recognized that scaling up implementation requires enhanced knowledgesharing on best practices, access to finance, technology development and transfer, and capacity-building;

(v) Recognized that innovative policy and social approaches to scaling up, such as institutional arrangements, partnerships and farmers’ empowerment, can incentivize implementation and support an enabling environment for scaling up best practices;

(w) Noted that successful policy innovations can include extension services and farmers’ self-organization;

[...]

The Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement,

Recalling Article 7, paragraph 1, of the Paris Agreement, in which Parties established the global goal on adaptation of enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change with a view to contributing to sustainable development and ensuring an adequate adaptation response in the context of the temperature goal referred to in Article 2 of the Agreement,

Also recalling decision 7/CMA.3,

Emphasizing that efforts to achieve the global goal on adaptation must focus on reducing the increasing adverse impacts, risks and vulnerabilities associated with climate change,

1. Welcomes the four workshops held under the Glasgow–Sharm el-Sheikh work programme on the global goal on adaptation in 2022;

2. Expresses appreciation to the Chairs of the subsidiary bodies for their guidance on and to the secretariat for its support in conducting informative and engaging workshops under the Glasgow–Sharm el-Sheikh work programme in 2022, as well as to the moderators, experts, Parties and non-Party stakeholders that participated in the workshops for their contributions and engagement;

3. Also expresses appreciation to the Government of Maldives for hosting an informal launch workshop and to the Government of Egypt for hosting the third workshop under the Glasgow–Sharm el-Sheikh work programme in 2022;

4. Notes that the single annual report on the workshops referred to in paragraph 16 of decision 7/CMA.3 and the summaries of each workshop therein will serve as input to Parties’ further considerations under the Glasgow–Sharm el-Sheikh work programme;

5. Notes with appreciation the compilation and synthesis of indicators, approaches, targets and metrics for reviewing overall progress in achieving the global goal on adaptation,2, 3 building on the 2021 technical report by the Adaptation Committee;

6. Notes the challenges associated with holding the 2022 workshops under the Glasgow–Sharm el-Sheikh work programme virtually, with preparing for those workshops in a timely manner and with producing the single annual report on those workshops5 in time for consideration at this session;

7. Recognizes that adaptation is a global challenge faced by all with local, subnational, national, regional and international dimensions, and that it is a key component of and makes a contribution to the long-term global response to climate change to protect people, livelihoods and ecosystems;

8. Decides to initiate the development of a framework for the global goal on adaptation to be undertaken through a structured approach under the Glasgow–Sharm el-Sheikh work programme in 2023, containing the elements referred to in paragraph 10 below, with a view to the framework being adopted at the fifth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (November–December 2023);

9. Also decides that the framework referred to in paragraph 8 above will guide the achievement of the global goal on adaptation and the review of overall progress in achieving it with a view to reducing the increasing adverse impacts, risks and vulnerabilities associated with climate change, as well as enhance adaptation action and support;

10. Further decides that the framework, through the structured approach referred to in paragraph 8 above, may take into consideration, inter alia:

(a) Dimensions (iterative adaptation cycle): impact, vulnerability and risk assessment; planning; implementation; and monitoring, evaluation and learning; recognizing that support in terms of finance, capacity-building and technology transfer is a consideration in each stage of the cycle;

(b) Themes: water; food and agriculture; cities, settlements and key infrastructure; health; poverty and livelihoods; terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems; and oceans and coastal ecosystems; tangible cultural heritage; mountain regions; and biodiversity;

(c) Cross-cutting considerations: country-driven, gender-responsive, participatory and fully transparent approaches, human rights approaches, intergenerational equity and social justice, taking into consideration vulnerable groups, communities and ecosystems, and nature-based solutions, and based on and guided by the best available science including science-based indicators, metrics and targets, as appropriate, traditional knowledge, knowledge of indigenous peoples and local knowledge systems, ecosystem-based adaptation, nature-based solutions, community-based adaptation, disaster risk reduction and intersectional approaches with a view to integrating adaptation into relevant socioeconomic and environmental policies and actions, where appropriate;

(d) Sources of information including those referred to in decision 19/CMA.1, paragraph 37, namely:

(i) Reports and communications from Parties, in particular those submitted under the Paris Agreement and the Convention;

(ii) The latest reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change;

(iii) Reports of the subsidiary bodies;

(iv) Reports from relevant constituted bodies and forums and other institutional arrangements under or serving the Paris Agreement and/or the Convention;

(v) The synthesis reports by the secretariat referred to in paragraph 23 of that decision;

(vi) Relevant reports from United Nations agencies and other international organizations, which should be supportive of the UNFCCC process;

(vii) Voluntary submissions from Parties, including on inputs to inform equity considerations under the global stocktake;

(viii) Relevant reports from regional groups and institutions;

(ix) Submissions from non-Party stakeholders and UNFCCC observer organizations;

11. Decides to review the framework referred to in paragraph 8 above prior to the second global stocktake;

12. Also decides that the four workshops under the Glasgow–Sharm el-Sheikh work programme in 2023 will all be held in person, with the option available for participants to actively take part virtually;

13. Further decides to hold the first workshop in 2023 no later than in March and the fourth workshop in 2023 no later than six weeks prior to the fifth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement;

14. Requests the secretariat to publish the single annual report on the workshops for 2023 no later than three weeks prior to the fifth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement;

15. Also requests the secretariat to include in the single annual report an analysis of the outcomes of the workshops and to prepare, under the guidance of the Chairs of the subsidiary bodies, a summary of each workshop to be published prior to each subsequent workshop for consideration at the fifty-ninth sessions of the subsidiary bodies (November–December 2023);

16. Invites Parties and observers to submit by the end of February 2023, via the submission portal, their contributions to and views on the workshops to be held in 2023, including questions related to the themes of those workshops;

17. Also invites Parties and observers that wish to do so to submit over the course of 2023, via the submission portal, additional views on the workshops to be held in 2023, noting that views pertaining to a specific workshop should be submitted three weeks in advance thereof;

18. Further invites Parties and observers that wish to do so, following the final workshop, in 2023 to submit their views on the outcomes of and work conducted under the Glasgow–Sharm el-Sheikh work programme via the submission portal prior to the fifth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement;

19. Requests the Chairs of the subsidiary bodies, with the support of the secretariat, to prepare a concept note and guiding questions, covering themes and areas of work for each workshop based on the elements contained in paragraph 10 above, at least two weeks in advance thereof, taking into account the submissions referred to in paragraphs 16–17 above;

20. Also requests the Chairs of the subsidiary bodies to select themes for the workshops to be held in 2023, taking into account the following areas:

(a) Target-setting, metrics, methodologies and indicators for the global goal on adaptation;

(b) Means of implementation for achieving the global goal on adaptation;

(c) The steps of an iterative adaptation cycle: risk and impact assessment; planning; implementation; and monitoring, evaluation and learning;

(d) The systems and sectors set out in the contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, with a focus on exploring options for enhancing efforts to mainstream adaptation in national priority areas or sectors;

(e) Gender-responsiveness; intergenerational and gender equity and social justice; ecosystem- and community-based adaptation; governance at the local, national and regional level; transboundary approaches; private sector engagement; traditional, local and indigenous peoples’ knowledge; and human rights; (f) The stocktake of the Glasgow–Sharm el-Sheikh work programme;

(g) Changes in mindsets and world views towards transformation in adaptation, with the inclusion of indigenous peoples’ wisdom, values and knowledge;

(h) Recent scientific research relevant to the global goal on adaptation;

(i) The global stocktake;