Planetary challenges and gender equality
Gender equality and the triple planetary crisis - the crisis of climate change, the crisis of nature and biodiversity loss, and the crisis of pollution and waste - are strongly interlinked. As in most parts of the world, in Asia and the Pacific, women and girls, are often disproportionately affected by environmental challenges due to underlying inequalities. Women, girls and other marginalized groups are more likely to experience poverty and rely on natural resources for their livelihoods to a higher degree, while at the same time having limited access to and control over essential resources and facing barriers to participating in environmental decision-making.
Gender also overlaps with economic and social factors such as economic status, race, sexual orientation, gender expression, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, indigeneity, disability, age, language, social origin or other similar shared characteristics or traits which can make marginalized groups more susceptible to environmental harm.
Women and girls as agents of change
Women, girls and other marginalized groups often play a critical role in effectively addressing shared environmental challenges and in acting as environmental human rights defenders. They have unique knowledge and experiences related to the environment, often based on their primary responsibility of managing food, water, energy and other resources. This knowledge should be harnessed to develop solutions to environmental problems and to promote sustainable practices within communities in Asia and the Pacific.
What UNEP is doing
UNEP’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific is committed to promoting the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, including access to information, climate resilient livelihoods, environmental decision making, and access to justice. Through its work, UNEP aims to ensure that these rights are available to all individuals and communities, regardless of gender and other intersecting social identities, leaving no one behind.
