Prime minister Narendra Modi has big plans to expand palm oil production in the region, saying it can be a “gamechanger” for the economy and boost the nation’s self-reliance. But in areas that have pioneered palm oil production, it has brought little wealth at a heavy cost for the environment and workers.

Experts warn that the policy is likely to drive deforestation, putting India’s wildlife and climate goals at risk, while disempowering women.

“In monoculture farming women are the ones who are at loss, primarily because it takes place in big chunks of lands which are mostly entitled to the male’s name. The cash which comes from monoculture farming comes in bulk and goes to the men in the family, so there is less petty cash left for the woman in the house.”

Leaders and campaigners warned that the climate crisis could not be ended without the empowerment of women.
Women and girls around the world suffer disproportionately from the impacts of climate breakdown, as they are on average poorer, less educated and more dependent on subsistence farming. A UN report found 80% of those displaced by the climate emergency are women.

New analysis details how trade policy affects women's participation in the economy. Learn more about the possible policy solutions we can adopt to develop inclusive growth through diversified trade.

UNDP, in partnership with UN Women, OECD and other members of a consortium of global organisations, are collaborating on a new tool:
the COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker, with a green lens.

Set to launch at the 66th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in March 2022, the new tool builds on the success of two existing policy databases to help identify the level of alignment between countries’ COVID-19 recovery measures and their SDG commitments.

How does climate change affect the role of women in the global coffee sector?

Around 70% of labour in coffee production is provided by women. Addressing sustainable production as well as rural livelihoods requires a discussion around the barriers that women face in coffee production. Read more about how we can develop an inclusive and green model for coffee agribusiness:

While climate negotiations continue in Glasgow, it is essential to remember that any meaningful international effort to shift to a sustainable society must include a gender perspective. However, women and girls have mostly been neglected by national climate strategies so far.

Hence the question, Will COP26 Become a Turning Point for Gender Responsive Climate Action?

The role of women in managing climate change

Chair of the Environment Agency, Emma Howard Boyd, speaks at The Energy Law Institute’s Annual Clifford Chance Lecture