EXPOSING THE GENDER GAPS IN FINANCING CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION – AND PROPOSING SOLUTIONS

The report examines the historical lack of gender consideration in climate change mitigation financing, which has traditionally prioritized 'gender neutral' technical measures. Through case studies in Nepal, Mali, and Colombia, it demonstrates that gender mainstreaming—integrating gender issues from a project's outset—enhances outcomes. Key findings emphasize the necessity of socially disaggregated data, the role of economic co-benefits in securing community support, and the importance of gender-sensitive institutional policies. The document highlights that women's active participation in planning and decision-making is critical for the long-term viability of emission reduction initiatives.

• Climate change mitigation projects have historically been viewed as 'gender neutral' because they prioritized scientific and technical measures, often ignoring the disproportionate impact of climate change on women in developing countries.
• Gender mainstreaming is most effective when integrated from the beginning of a project's lifecycle, rather than as an afterthought, to ensure that goals, monitoring, and evaluation are gender-responsive.
• The systematic collection of socially disaggregated data is critical for analyzing and demonstrating the specific benefits and impacts of gender equality in climate mitigation projects.
• In Nepal, the Biogas Support Program (BSP) demonstrated that gender mainstreaming increased women's participation in the sector; by 2011, women owned 23% of biogas systems and headed 30% of the cooperatives used for financing.
• The Household Energy and Universal Rural Access (HEURA) project in Mali showed that gender assessments can identify demand-side opportunities, such as promoting electricity use in women-owned businesses to increase economic benefits.
• The TransMilenio Bus Rapid Transit system in Bogotá, Colombia, illustrated that failing to address gender-specific safety concerns, such as sexual harassment and poor lighting, can hinder the attractiveness and use of mass transit for women.
• The UNFCCC's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) has historically favored large-scale projects, but the introduction of the 'Programme of Activities' (PoA) methodology allows for the aggregation of smaller, community-based projects that are more likely to engage women.
• Economic and social co-benefits, such as increased income and reduced labor for women, are essential for securing the national and community support necessary for the long-term viability of climate mitigation activities.

APA

Karlsson, G. (n.d.). EXPOSING THE GENDER GAPS IN FINANCING CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION – AND PROPOSING SOLUTIONS. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Gender-Gaps-in-Financing.pdf

Chicago

Karlsson, Gail. EXPOSING THE GENDER GAPS IN FINANCING CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION – AND PROPOSING SOLUTIONS. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, n.d. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Gender-Gaps-in-Financing.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Karlsson |first1=Gail |title=EXPOSING THE GENDER GAPS IN FINANCING CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION – AND PROPOSING SOLUTIONS |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Gender-Gaps-in-Financing.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{karlssonndexposing, author = {Karlsson, Gail}, title = {{EXPOSING THE GENDER GAPS IN FINANCING CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION – AND PROPOSING SOLUTIONS}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Gender-Gaps-in-Financing.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }