1. Women, Climate Change and Cities
Lora Minicucci and Beatrice Mauger, Women’s Environment and
Development Organization Fellows
March 2015

2. Why Gender and Climate Change?
• Climate change exacerbates existing systemic
inequalities.
• Gender roles and inequality can make women
more vulnerable to the effects of climate
change.
• Just and sustainable climate change solutions
must include women in decision-making.

3. Climate Change Concepts (I)
Vulnerability: Predisposition towards being negatively
affected by the changing climate.
 Lack of ability to adapt to climate change.
 Susceptibility to harm.
Capacity Building: Providing tools and/or resources to
adapt or mitigate climate change.
Resilience: Ability of an ecosystem or settlement to
withstand a shock.

4. Social Impacts of Climate Change

5. Climate Change Concepts (II)
Adaptation: Adjustment to the changing climate with
the intention to avoid or lessen harm.
Mitigation: Efforts to reduce or prevent the emission
of greenhouse gases.
 New technology, reduction in energy use, or
promotion of sinks.
Climate Justice: Movement that seeks to eliminate the
inequalities that are exacerbated by climate change.

6. Climate Change and Cities: An Overview
Cities represent:
• 52% of the global population (2011).
• 67-76% of energy use (2006).
• 71-76% of energy-related CO2 emissions (2006).
• Urban population expected to reach
5.6-7.1 billion - 64-69% of world population - by 2050.
Cities are mobilizing:
• 228 cities have committed to saving 13 gigatons of GHG by 2050.
• Initiatives within scope of UN (proposed SDG target, Compact of Mayors)
 However, absence of gender dimension at the local level.

7. WEDO Study
• Objective & Methodology
• Findings
• Mexico City (Mexico City Climate
Action Plan 2014-2020)
• San Francisco (Cities for CEDAW)

8. Gender Opportunities and Entry Points
• Disaster Risk Recovery:
Women Will Rebuild Miami
• Transportation:
Bogotá’s Rapid Transit System
• Green jobs:
US Department of Labor Women’s Bureau
green jobs training pilot program

9. Key Recommendations
• Address unequal power relations and promote the full participation and
leadership of women in the decision-making process by ensuring their needs,
responsibilities, rights, and agency are recognized at all institutional levels.
• Introduce/strengthen gender equality measures into local policies.
• Develop and disseminate guidance and best practices for city governments
and policymakers.
• Conduct additional research for possible entry points.
• Collect and use data that is disaggregated by gender, age, ethnicity, etc… and
conduct more research to evaluate the success of programs targeting
women.
• Conduct training programs and capacity-building targeting women to support
their role in implementing climate mitigation and adaptation policy.