Climate Finance Talks at Cop30 Stalled by Dispute Over ‘Gender‘ Definition
Belém, Brazil - Negotiations at Cop30 are facing headwinds as developing nations push for increased climate finance specifically targeted at gender equality, while wealthier countries resist defining how ”gender” should be integrated into funding mechanisms. The dispute threatens to derail progress on ensuring women and girls are not left behind in climate action, despite evidence showing climate change disproportionately impacts them.
The impasse centers on whether gender considerations should be embedded within broader climate finance discussions or addressed as a separate priority. Developing countries argue a dedicated focus is crucial to break “cyclic poverty traps” for women, while some wealthy nations maintain such decisions are best made within existing financial negotiating frameworks. This disagreement comes as data reveals alarmingly low levels of climate funding currently reaching gender-responsive projects.
Chikondi Chabvuta-Mkawa, a women’s rights advocate from Malawi and gender coordinator for the 44 nations designated as “least developed countries,” emphasized the urgency of the situation. “Financial and technical support is critical for us,” she said. “Time and time again, women’s groups go unfunded…if the gender lens was applied to climate action.”
Currently, only a small fraction of climate finance addresses gender equality. In 2022, just 4% of government aid allocated to climate adaptation had a primary focus on gender, according to data from the Center for Global Advancement. A broader analysis by the Climate Policy Initiative found that in 2021, only a small fraction of overall climate finance was flowing to projects aimed at addressing gender equality and women’s rights.
Vanessa Dolce de Faria, Brazil’s high representative for gender affairs, highlighted the possibility at hand, stating in a recent social media post, ”Without a gender viewpoint, climate action is not effective.” She added, “We have a historic window of opportunity to further consider the rights and challenge that women and girls face in relation to climate change.”
The outcome of these negotiations will be pivotal in determining whether Cop30 delivers tangible progress on integrating gender considerations into global climate finance, or whether the issue remains a point of contention, hindering effective and equitable climate action.
