GGCA Gender and Climate Change Training Manual - Women's ...

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Prologue
For many years there has been the assumption that the negative impacts of climate change
and the efforts to mitigate them have similar effects on both women and men. However, the world
has progressively recognized that women and men experience climate change differently, and that
gender inequalities worsen women’s coping capacity. It has also been acknowledged that women
are important actors of change and holders of significant knowledge and skills related to mitigation,
adaptation, and the reduction of risks in the face of climate change, making them crucial agents in this
area. Consequently, there is an urgent need to adopt a gender-responsive approach towards climate
change policy making and programming.
Linking climate change to human development remains an important challenge, particularly
because climate change is perceived by many as a purely scientific or technical issue. This publication
responds to the needs of policy makers and climate change scientists to understand and address
better the gender dimensions of climate change. It clarifies the linkages between gender and climate
change mitigation and adaptation.
We are pleased to introduce and recommend this Training Manual, designed by the Global
Gender and Climate Alliance (GGCA), as a practical tool to increase the capacity of policy and decision
makers to develop gender-responsive climate change policies and strategies. At this crucial moment,
on the way to negotiating the new international climate change strategy, this publication provides all
actors with the essential knowledge and concrete guidance on how their actions on climate change
can better answer the needs of women and men in developing countries.
Julia Marton-Lefèvre
Director General
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Winnie Byanyima
Director, Gender Team
UNDP (United Nations Development Program)