ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the evolution of gender inclusivity in the global climate governance regime under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It reflects on progress made since its Secretariat accorded official recognition to the Gender Constituency in 2011. The chapter looks primarily at developments concerning the quantitative change in the representation of women in regime bodies, weighing factors promoting and impeding progress in this regard. It then briefly reflects on emerging qualitative developments of the coverage offered to gender equality in key regime activities, broadly considering the breadth and depth of engagement. In each case, the chapter considers the influence that systemic features of international law and politics more generally, and of the UNFCCC regime itself, exercise over the treatment of gender issues and its efficacy. The chapter concludes by reflecting on an evident lack of urgency in addressing the need to deal fully and meaningfully with gender and climate change as an object of full stakeholder engagement. It suggests wider and more stringent action is required to bring the full scope of all human agency to bear on the existential crisis that we now face but observes that this requires fuller state support than hitherto.
