Gender-responsive synergies across the Rio Conventions: Multi-stakeholder perspectives

The Rio Conventions—the treaties on biodiversity, desertification, and climate change—are designed to protect life on Earth. Each includes gender equality provisions and action plans, yet achieving their goals requires breaking down silos and fostering collaboration and cooperation among governments, UN agencies, civil society, and the private sector.

This publication brings together 22 voices from around the world working at the nexus of biodiversity loss, climate change, and land degradation. Building on the 2024 working paper, “Advancing gender-responsive synergies across the Rio Conventions”, this collection offers practical insights and concrete examples of how gender equality and implementation of the Rio Conventions are mutually reinforcing.

The report underscores that women’s leadership and participation, especially grassroots, Indigenous, and youth voices, are essential for building climate and environmental resilience. It highlights key entry points for action, from securing women’s land rights and promoting gender-responsive finance to protecting women environmental human rights defenders and addressing women’s unpaid care work.

Contributors share actionable strategies for gender-responsive, just transitions, disaster risk reduction, and data-driven approaches that integrate gender equality across all Rio Convention processes.

By advancing gender-responsive synergies, stakeholders can accelerate progress towards our shared goals of addressing climate change, protecting biodiversity and ecosystems, and combating desertification—while promoting gender equality, upholding women’s rights, and building resilient communities.