Today, the climate change presents one of the most challenging realities of our time --  a threat that is more serious to the most vulnerable segments of the population than others. A threat that deepens existing inequalities, including those related to gender.

There is no doubt that the climate change does affect women and men differently, such as women being responsible for collecting and producing food, water, and fuel sources. Difficulties emerging from the impact of the climate change, coupled with existing gender stereotypes, create a complicated situation for millions of women around the world. Women are experiencing an increased workload, increased gender discrimination and ultimately feminization of poverty.

Simultaneously, women’s ability to influence and participate in planning, development and implementation of policies, such as climate agenda, remains low due to their low participation in decision-making processes. This applies to their involvement on the community level as well and as a result, women do experience a limited opportunity to participate in the climate change mitigation.

Notwithstanding the fact that women are disproportionately affected by climate change, they play a critical role in adapting to and mitigating climate change. Due to the fact women play a leading role in managing their households, they have a better knowledge what needs to be taken to adapt to changing environmental conditions and to find practical solutions.

Recognizing the importance of an equal involvement of women and men in the implementation of decisions and processes of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan is working to mainstream a gender agenda in the implementation of national climate policy.

During her opening remarks at the thematic event on gender and climate in October this year, Irina Goryunova, UNDP Assistant Resident Representative in Kazakhstan, emphasized the role of UNDP in mainstreaming gender equality and women empowerment across all projects being implemented in the country.

Throughout the event, the attention was being drawn to the provisions and requirements for introducing gender dimension into climate change issues, as set out in the decisions of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change on the Enhanced 5-year Lima Work Program on Gender. The participants were acquainted with some international experience, such as of North Macedonia in how they mainstreamed gender agenda in the preparation of National Communications under the UNFCCC and Biennial Reports. Sanja Elezovic, International Expert on Gender Issues, noted: ‘Gender mainstreaming in climate agenda is essential, as understanding the impacts of climate change on all segments of population, and especially women, allows for more effective planning and implementation of the activities to mitigate the change’.

The event also presented an overview of tools in the field of climate change and gender issues. The national gender analysis on climate change issues identified a number of institutional barriers requiring attention, such as a missing national climate focal point for gender under the UNFCCC, a lack of awareness of gender focal points at ministries and akimats, or an imperfect legal and regulatory framework and institutional structures to address gender-sensitive issues. On top of it, some speakers pointed out insufficient volume of disaggregated gender statistical information by economic sector and a lack of studies assessing the impact of the climate change, vulnerability, risks, and mitigation and adaptation to climate change of the population of Kazakhstan with the inclusion of gender dimensions.  

Lat but not least, the event has become a platform for a discussion to contribute to the draft Gender Action Plan for Climate Change in Kazakhstan aimed at an equal and meaningful participation of women and men in the implementation of actions on climate change. The Plan was developed by the Gender Specialist of the Eighth National Communication project and includes a methodological framework on strengthening the role of women in climate action throughout the country.