As the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) convenes in Belém, Brazil, a stark reality emerges: the aspiration for gender equality within climate justice remains unmet.
Despite being acknowledged in words, gender equality continues to be sidelined in the realms of climate finance and policy, even a decade after the Paris Agreement (PA). This has resulted in a climate framework that favors fossil fuels and corporate ventures while neglecting the women and communities directly impacted by the climate crisis on a daily basis.
The Paris Agreement committed nations to ensure that climate actions are inclusive, participatory, and equitable. However, initiatives like the Lima Work Programme on Gender and the Gender Action Plan have fallen short in translating these intentions into tangible inclusion and financial support. Shockingly, only 2.8 percent of multilateral climate finance for mitigation, as highlighted in ActionAid’s 2024 “Fund Our Future” report, is directed towards just transitions that prioritize workers, women, and affected communities.
This lack of funding is visibly felt in communities worldwide, where women farmers combat issues like saltwater intrusion, and informal workers are displaced by climate-related disasters without receiving adequate support. The core of the problem lies in the structural deficiencies of the current climate finance systems, as noted by the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO).
Despite the proven benefits of gender-responsive climate policies in enhancing resilience, adaptation, and community engagement, global climate finance mechanisms remain complex and top-down, excluding grassroots actors. Moreover, substantial public funds continue to uphold the fossil fuel industry, overshadowing adaptation budgets and hindering progress towards a sustainable future.
The need for a shift from rhetoric to action is pressing. The COP30 must prioritize three key areas: setting measurable finance targets within the new UNFCCC Gender Action Plan, redirecting public funds away from fossil fuel subsidies towards gender-responsive initiatives, and simplifying the system to enable direct access for women’s rights organizations and community-based groups.
Bangladesh, being highly vulnerable to climate change, has an opportunity to lead by example at COP30. By advocating for dedicated funding and gender-responsive initiatives within climate finance goals, pushing for gender justice safeguards in energy transition funds, and streamlining access to international climate finance for local organizations, Bangladesh can pave the way for meaningful change.
Institutionalizing gender budgeting, aligning NDCs and NAP with gender equality goals, and forging alliances with other Global South countries with strong feminist movements will further strengthen Bangladesh’s position as a champion of gender-responsive governance and climate justice.
COP30 in Belém must not be another forum of empty promises but a decisive moment in funding a future anchored in justice and equality. By empowering women and prioritizing justice, climate action can truly deliver positive outcomes and restore hope for a sustainable world.