UN report calls for addressing gender disparities across Rio Convention leadership to improve environmental decision-making

A new United Nations report calls for addressing gender disparities across leadership positions at the Rio Conventions, which include the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the U.N. Convention to Combat Desertification. 

Noting regional differences among the U.N.'s almost 200 Member States and based on data as of 2024, researchers with the U.N. University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health found that "across all three conventions, 51 countries are represented entirely by men, compared to only 17 countries represented entirely by women," according to a press release. "Only 19 countries — approximately 10 percent of Member States — have achieved full gender balance."

In the UNFCCC, for example, men hold 59 percent of the "focal point roles" — or country representative roles — the UNU-INWEH researchers found.

The timing is notable, perhaps, with the report issued on November 25, just days after the UNFCCC — more commonly known as COP30 — concluded in Belém, Brazil, to somewhat mixed reviews. While stakeholders pointed to some key outcomes, major outlets also reported that the formal agreement coming out of the climate summit was "watered-down," "[fell] short," and contained "no direct reference to the fossil fuels that are heating up the planet."

Some stakeholders felt similarly about the revised plan adopted in Belém to guide gender-responsive climate action: important steps, but not enough — and unclear financing. In light of this new UNU-INWEH report, some may wonder whether gender parity improvements could have made a difference in the recent summit's results.

"The persistence of male-dominated leadership in environmental governance is not just a numbers game; it is a systemic failure that limits our ability to generate innovative, equitable solutions," said senior researcher and lead author Grace Oluwasanya in the release. "Without deliberate institutional reforms and targeted capacity-building initiatives, we risk perpetuating policies that fail to address the specific vulnerabilities of women and marginalized communities who suffer the most from environmental crises."

The report outlines recommendations for addressing the disparities, including setting gender parity targets, implementing mentorship and funding programs for women delegates, and enforcing transparent selection criteria by Member States.

Climate, Gendered readers may find these proposals not entirely unfamiliar. In the lead-up to COP30, CG highlighted a call from Elma Kay of the Belize Maya Forest Trust to address gender disparity at the government level in order to foster meaningful climate action. Among the strategies Kay suggested were targets and mentorship.