Cancun, Mexico– On Saturday, November 27th, sixty government delegates, representing twenty-nine countries from all regions of the world participated in the updating session on new dimensions of gender and climate change in Cancun, Mexico. This session was an initiative of the GGCA (Global Gender and Climate Alliance). 

Undersecretary for Environmental Regulation Mexico, Sandra Denisse Herrera Flores and Resident Representative UNDP Mexico Magdy Martinez-Soliman provided welcoming remarks stressing the importance of including women in climate change policy making. WEDO Program Director Cate Owren updated delegates on the status of gender integration in the UNFCCC process and negotiations.  Ms. Owren stressed the importance of integrating meaningful, substantive, and effective gender language in the current negotiations texts and fostering participation of women delegates. IUCN Global Senior Gender Adviser Lorena Aguilar described the methodology of developing gender-sensitive national implementation strategies for climate change by brining women’s voices into national priority, conducting consultations with women’s groups, and incorporating gender into all areas of climate change activity undertaken by the government. Representatives of government of Mozambique, Jordan and Central America presented on their experiences elaborating first ever national and regional strategies on gender and climate change.

The session concluded with an integrative discussion highlighting best practices, opportunities, challenges, and concrete strategies. Delegates identified capacity building, access to resources and decision making, funding, and increasing the participation of women on delegations to negotiations as key areas.

For more information on this, please contact natalia[at]wedo.org.