GENDER AND THE ENVIRONMENT BUILDING EVIDENCE AND POLICIES TO ACHIEVE THE SDGS.

Description

Preface Foreword Acronyms and Abbreviations Executive Summary 1 Gender equality and sustainable development 1.1. Key findings 1.2. Gender equality and environmental goals are mutually reinforcing 1.3. Gender equality and the environment in the SDG Framework 1.4. Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development and its application to the gender-environment nexus 1.5. The need to apply a gender equality lens to the environment-related SDGs References 2 Recent progress in mapping the gender-environment nexus 2.1. Key findings 2.2. Parallel advances on the gender equality and environmental sustainability agendas 2.2.1. Cross-country progress on gender equality and women’s empowerment 2.3. Women in the driver’s seat – leading the debate and decisions in the public and private spheres 2.3.1. Gender equality in environmental public policy decision making 2.3.2. Women as brokers of environmental sustainability in private sector leadership 2.4. Advances on environmental goals and the SDGs 2.5. The large data deficit on the gender-environment nexus 2.5.1. The gender- environment nexus is largely missing in the nine environment-related SDGs and current indicators framework 2.5.2. Data on SDG gender-environment nexus indicators is scant 2.5.3. Ongoing efforts to collect gender-disaggregated environmental data 2.5.4. Supporting data collection efforts through development co-operation 2.5.5. Non-governmental data collection initiatives on the gender-environment nexus 2.6. Limited integration of the gender-environment nexus in policy decisions 2.6.1. Environmental policies 2.6.2. Regulatory impact assessments 2.6.3. Taxation and budgeting policies 2.6.4. Development co-operation policies 2.6.5. Trade and investment policies References Notes 3 Economic and well-being benefits of better integrating gender equality and environmental goals 3.1. Key findings 3.2. The environment’s impact on women’s health 3.2.1. Cost of air pollution 3.2.2. Water and soil contamination 3.2.3. Other exposure to hazardous chemicals 3.2.4. Climate change 3.3. Access to sustainable and quality infrastructure and economic opportunities for women 3.4. Women in green jobs and green innovation in the post-COVID 19 low-carbon transition 3.5. Women’s role in accelerating the shift towards sustainable consumption patterns 3.6. The gender-environment nexus in economic accounting and well-being frameworks References Notes 4 Women and the Environmental Action Movement 4.1. Key findings 4.2. Environmental justice: from a fringe to world-wide phenomenon 4.3. Women and environmental justice 4.4. Women in indigenous communities and the fight for conservation 4.5. Women’s role in environmental action in Small Island Developing States 4.6. The private sector and philanthropy as actors in the gender equality and environmental justice debate References Notes 5 Towards a joint gender and environment agenda 5.1. Key findings 5.2. The need for an integrated approach to gender equality and environmental sustainability 5.2.1. Lack of systematic data collection on the gender-environment nexus 5.2.2. The gender-environment nexus is largely missing in existing global standards 5.3. Closing the data gap on the gender-environment nexus 5.4. Developing a whole-of-government vision, action plan and an integrated policy framework to leverage the gender-environment nexus 5.4.1. Basic elements of an integrated policy framework 5.4.2. Applying the principles of Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development to the gender-environment nexus 5.5. Policy recommendations to jointly advance gender equality and environmental sustainability 5.5.1. Advancing gender equality policies with environmental goals in mind 5.5.2. Mainstreaming gender equality in environmental strategies/policies National environmental strategies and specific plans on climate change, biodiversity, oceans, and circular economy Environmental standards Environmental taxes and subsidies and budgetary tools Environment-sensitive sectors: “genderising” energy, transport, and farming policies Access to finance and technology for green ventures 5.5.3. Integrating a gender angle into the environmental aspects of transboundary policies Trade policies Foreign investment and RBC Development co-operation 5.6. Working in partnerships to deliver transformative change References Notes 6 Women and SDG 2 – Promoting sustainable agriculture 6.1. Key findings 6.2. Key interlinkages between gender equality, the promotion of sustainable agriculture and other SDGs 6.3. Gender gaps in agriculture, food security and health impacts of unsustainable agriculture 6.3.1. Women in agriculture 6.3.2. Women as small-scale holders 6.3.3. Health effects on women of unsustainable agriculture 6.4. The role of women in sustainable agriculture 6.5. Key actions for advancing the agenda and ongoing work References Notes 7 Women and SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 7.1. Key findings 7.2. Key interlinkages between gender equality, sustainable water management and other SDGs 7.3. Key water-related challenges for women 7.3.1. Inadequate access to clean water 7.3.2. Inadequate sanitation facilities 7.3.3. Transboundary waters and gender mainstreaming 7.4. The role of women in sustainable water management 7.5. Key actions for advancing the agenda and ongoing work References Notes 8 Women and SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 8.1. Key findings 8.2. Interlinkages between gender equality, affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), and other SDGs 8.3. Gendered effects of energy poverty 8.3.1. Energy and indoor pollution 8.3.2. Gender inequalities caused by energy policies 8.4. Women’s role in greening energy 8.4.1. Women as sustainable energy consumers 8.4.2. Women as energy entrepreneurs 8.4.3. A just transition for women and men 8.5. Key actions for advancing the agenda and ongoing work References Notes 9 Women and SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation 9.1. Key findings 9.2. Key interlinkages between gender equality; industrialisation, sustainable infrastructure and innovation and other SDGs 9.3. Gendered effects of industrialisation, infrastructure and new technologies 9.3.1. Industrialisation and its impact on women and the environment 9.3.2. Infrastructure development and its social and environmental spillovers 9.3.3. Gender gaps in access to digital services 9.4. Benefits of gender equality for industry, innovation and infrastructure: Women’s role in innovation and the development of digital infrastructure 9.4.1. Women’s leadership in the green and digital sectors 9.4.2. Women’s role in scientific research and innovation 9.5. Key actions for advancing the agenda and ongoing work References Notes 10 Women and SDG 11 – sustainable cities and communities: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 10.1. Key findings 10.2. Key interlinkages between gender equality, urban and settlement development, and other SDGs 10.3. How unsustainable urban life and design affects men and women differently – key challenges 10.3.1. Gender-specific impact of urban pollution, natural disasters and other health hazards 10.3.2. Improving social infrastructure contributes to gender equality 10.3.3. Women show more sustainable mobility patterns and preferences than men 10.3.4. Transport safety as a top priority for women 10.3.5. Making transport gender-responsive and sustainable 10.4. Women’s role in promoting sustainable and inclusive cities and transport 10.4.1. Increasing women’s workforce participation and leadership in the transport sector would improve sustainability 10.4.2. Making settlements safer and more peaceful by engaging women 10.4.3. Tackling gender-based urban crime 10.4.4. Greening cities from a gender perspective 10.5. Key actions for advancing the agenda and ongoing work References Notes 11 Women and SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 11.1. Key findings 11.2. Key interlinkages between gender equality and sustainable consumption and production 11.3. Women are worst affected by unsustainable production patterns 11.3.1. Risks from waste management 11.3.2. Inadequate labour and occupational safety conditions 11.4. Consumption patterns and attitudes to the environment differ by gender 11.5. Women and the circular economy 11.5.1. The role of women in promoting sustainable production 11.5.2. Transforming the fashion industry 11.5.3. Transforming materials use, recycling and waste management 11.5.4. Mainstreaming gender into national circular economy strategies 11.5.5. Promoting women’s role in the circular economy in cities 11.5.6. Behavioural insights to ‘nudge’ women and men into sustainable consumption 11.6. Gender equality and fossil fuel subsidy reform 11.7. Key actions for advancing the gender-environment nexus in sustainable consumption and production, and ongoing work References 12 Women and SDG13 – Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 12.1. Key findings 12.2. Key interlinkages between gender equality, climate action and other SDGs 12.3. Gendered effects of climate change 12.4. Gender equality and the role of women in climate action 12.4.1. Gender equality measures reinforce climate action 12.4.2. Men and women express different preferences, perceptions and beliefs towards climate change 12.4.3. Women’s engagement in climate action 12.5. Key actions for advancing the agenda and ongoing work References 13 Women and SDG14 – Life under water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 13.1. Key findings 13.2. Key interlinkages between gender equality, sustainable management of marine resources, and other SDGs 13.3. Gender effects of marine litter and maritime natural disasters 13.4. The blue economy 13.4.1. Women’s employment in the fisheries sector 13.4.2. Supporting women engaged in small-scale fishing 13.5. Leveraging women’s role to protect the oceans and sustainably develop marine resources 13.5.1. The role of women in tackling marine pollution 13.5.2. The role of women in protecting marine ecosystems 13.6. Key actions for advancing the agenda and ongoing work References 14 Women and SDG 15 – Life on Land: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. 14.1. Key findings 14.2. Key interlinkages between gender equality, sustainable use of land resources and other SDGs 14.3. The degradation of terrestrial ecosystems has more intense effects on women 14.4. Constraints on women and indigenous groups’ engagement in land, forest management and conservation efforts 14.5. Women’s role in conservation efforts and protecting biodiversity 14.5.1. Women’s role in biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest management 14.5.2. Women in indigenous communities and their role in protecting ecosystems 14.5.3. Women’s activism to protect biodiversity 14.6. Integrating a gender lens into biodiversity initiatives 14.7. Key actions for advancing the agenda and ongoing work References Notes Annex A. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Indicators: mapping the gender-environment nexus References