The Conference of the Parties,
Recalling decisions 36/CP.7, 1/CP.16, 23/CP.18, 18/CP.20, 1/CP.21, 21/CP.22, 3/CP.23 and 3/CP.25, the Paris Agreement and the Katowice climate package,
Expressing its appreciation for the contributions received from Parties and observers in support of gender mainstreaming work undertaken through the enhanced Lima work programme on gender and its gender action plan to date,
Acknowledging with appreciation the constructive, ongoing engagement in virtual meetings and workshops in support of gender action plan activities A.2 and D.6 and taking note that, while participation has broadened beyond the UNFCCC process as a result of the virtual format of meetings and workshops, some participants, particularly those in developing countries, continue to experience significant challenges related to Internet access and connectivity and the technological equipment required for virtual participation,
Recognizing with concern the unprecedented crisis caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the uneven nature of the global response to the pandemic and the pandemic’s multifaceted effects on all spheres of society, including the deepening of pre-existing inequalities, including gender inequality, and resulting vulnerabilities, which may negatively impact the implementation of effective gender-responsive climate action and urging Parties to accelerate their efforts to advance implementation of the enhanced Lima work programme on gender and its gender action plan,
Acknowledging the important role of the enhanced Lima work programme on gender and its gender action plan in advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in the UNFCCC process,
Reminding Parties of its encouragement to appoint and provide support for a national gender and climate change focal point for climate negotiations, implementation and monitoring and noting that 94 countries have appointed such a focal point to date,
Recognizing that the full, meaningful and equal participation and leadership of women in all aspects of the UNFCCC process and in national- and local-level climate policy and action is vital for achieving long-term climate goals and inviting Parties to engage youth and indigenous peoples in climate action, including by considering their inclusion in Party delegations,
Noting the engagement of Parties, the secretariat and other relevant stakeholders in activities and events under the United Nations system related to gender equality and climate change and in line with the gender action plan priority areas,
Taking note of Parties’ efforts in integrating gender considerations into their nationally determined contributions and encouraging Parties to make greater efforts in integrating gender into nationally determined contributions and national climate change policies, plans, strategies and action,
1. Recalls that the intermediate review of the progress of implementation of the activities contained in the gender action plan is due at the fifty-sixth session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (June 2022);
2. Invites Parties, United Nations entities, other stakeholders and implementing entities, in accordance with their respective mandates and priorities, to take stock of and map progress in advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in line with the priority areas of the gender action plan;
3. Also invites Parties and observers to submit via the submission portal, by 31 March 2022, information on the progress of implementation of the activities contained in the gender action plan, areas for improvement and further work to be undertaken, including, as appropriate, information on the multidimensional impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on progress, and consideration of other diverse challenges that may impact future implementation of the gender action plan at all levels;
4. Further invites the International Labour Organization to prepare a technical paper exploring linkages between gender-responsive climate action and just transition for promoting inclusive opportunities for all in a low-emission economy, and to submit the paper to the secretariat by 31 March 2022;
5. Requests the secretariat to prepare a synthesis report on the submissions referred to in paragraph 3 above, information and recommendations arising from virtual and in-person workshops and events held between 1 December 2019 and 31 March 2022, and any relevant research conducted in preparation for the fifty-sixth session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation;
6. Takes note of the annual reports on gender composition for 2020 and 2021, which highlight the persistent lack of progress in in-person participation, the challenges identified in promoting women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in virtual forums, and the urgent need for improving the representation and leadership of women in Party delegations and in all bodies established under the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement and welcomes the strengthened reporting on two case studies, including data disaggregated by sex that provide further information on the participation of women in Party delegations;
7. Requests the secretariat to explore ways of automating the analysis of data disaggregated by sex on speaking times at UNFCCC meetings in order to continue to strengthen the annual report on gender composition, and to report on its findings at the fifty-sixth session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation;
8. Encourages Parties and constituted bodies under the Convention to consider the case studies referred to in paragraph 6 above and promote the full, meaningful and equal participation of women in the UNFCCC process;
9. Reminds Parties and observers of the invitation for submissions, by 31 March 2022, on the gender-differentiated impacts of climate change, the role of women as agents of change and opportunities for women;
10. Takes note of the report on progress of constituted bodies in integrating gender considerations into their respective workstreams10 and of their efforts to institutionalize such integration in their work and encourages constituted bodies to continue to strengthen their efforts in this area and promote coordination and coherence in the context of this work, taking into consideration the recommendations contained in the report;
11. Requests the secretariat to prepare an informal summary report prior to the fifty-sixth session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation reflecting clearly the proposed responsibilities of and support for national gender and climate change focal points to enable them to perform their role, taking into account the multifarious, evolving and Party-driven nature of the work and role of such focal points;
12. Takes note of the recommendations arising from the workshop on the role of national gender and climate change focal points and invites Parties to consider those recommendations and take action, as appropriate, to provide support for the focal points in undertaking their activities;
13. Encourages Parties to be more explicit about the gender-responsiveness of climate finance with a view to strengthening the capacity of women and furthering work under the gender action plan in order to facilitate access to climate finance for grass-roots women’s organizations as well as for indigenous peoples and local communities;
14. Takes note of the estimated budgetary implications of the activities to be undertaken by the secretariat referred to in paragraphs 5, 7 and 11 above;
15. Requests that the actions of the secretariat called for in this decision be undertaken subject to the availability of financial resources.
