PRIORITIES
- An intersectional gender lens should be applied to all federal climate and environment related policy development. This includes a gender lens on the development of the new National Net Zero Authority, the National Climate Adaptation and Risk Program, the Net Zero 2050 Plan and commitments outlined in the Nature Positive Plan.
- Clear gender equality conditions should be included in all government grants and investment that address climate and environmental issues and solutions. This should incorporate a quota requiring 50% of government investment and funding to be awarded to projects owned and/or led by women or gender diverse people, clear requirements regarding diverse workforce development and community outcomes and requirements regarding gender impact assessments for investment proposals.
- The Women’s Leadership and Development Program, led by the federal Office for Women, should be expanded with funding for the next 10 years and include a specific funding stream tied to leadership for climate and environmental outcomes ensuring access to women and gender diverse people that face high barriers to gaining leadership positions.
- A National Gender, Climate and Environment Strategy should be developed which details how the Government is responding to and implementing gender action plans under its international obligations, establishes measures for evaluating progress and includes best practice case studies in gender-responsive climate and environmental policy making that could be followed by state and local governments.
RATIONALE
Women and gender diverse people are disproportionately vulnerable to climate and environmental impacts. Their health and safety are acutely compromised by the threats of climate change and biodiversity loss, and they are affected across the multiple spheres of their lives including their home, workplace and community.
In a meta-analysis of 130 studies, 68% found that women were more impacted by climate-linked health issues than men. The World Health Organization has warned that climate hazards particularly impact pregnant women and babies, with dangers to physical and mental health during the vulnerable perinatal period. Elderly women are recognised to be the group most at risk during extreme heat events.
Perhaps most disturbingly, research across Australia from a wide range of extreme weather events has demonstrated that gender-based violence consistently increases in the wake of disasters. Flood, fire, drought and pandemic have all led to significant rises in the numbers of women and children affected by violence in the home.
These statistics highlight the urgent need to bring a strong gender lens to all federal government environmental and climate change policies and legislation. A gender lens is required at all stages of development and implementation. A national Gender, Climate and Environment Strategy would also ensure that Australia can meet its international obligations on gender and climate as well as develop best practice in gender-responsive climate and environmental policy making that could be followed by state and local governments
Women and gender diverse people also offer much-needed responses to climate and environmental challenges. Though women and gender diverse people are acutely affected by climate and environmental risks, their perspectives are not always central to solutions.
Research demonstrates that women and gender diverse people bring different beliefs, opinions and approaches to their work, including a preference for nature-based solutions over technocratic responses. There is a need for the Federal Government to strengthen and expand its existing Women’s Leadership and Development Program to include a stream specifically relating to climate and the environment.
Currently less than 1% of global charitable funding goes to women-led environmental action. Yet evidence suggests that when women are involved, environmental projects have a greater likelihood of success. As such, there is a clear opportunity to promote investment in women owned and women led solutions to climate and environmental challenges through investment quotas, requirements for workforce development and gender impact assessments for investment proposals.
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