Climate policy & social equity
Gender Action Plan (UNFCCC)
Definition
A gender action plan under the UNFCCC sets out objectives and activities to advance gender-responsive climate action and women's full, equal, and meaningful participation in the climate process. The first GAP was established at COP23 (2017) under the Lima work programme on gender; an enhanced GAP was agreed at COP25 (2019, Decision 3/CP.25); and at COP30 Parties adopted the nine-year Belém Gender Action Plan (2026–2034, Decision 7/CP.30).
References
adoption history and structure
programme context
Overview
What it means
The GAP turns a general commitment to gender equality into named activities — capacity building, gender balance in delegations, sex-disaggregated data, and gender-responsive implementation — with reviews and reporting. The enhanced plan organised work under priority areas including coherence and gender-responsive means of implementation; the Belém plan continues this for 2026–2034.
How it is used
Parties, the UNFCCC secretariat, and observers report against GAP activities; national gender and climate change focal points coordinate implementation; and the plan shapes how gender appears in NDCs and adaptation planning.
Why it matters
Climate impacts and climate policy are not gender-neutral; the GAP is the regime's main instrument for making that recognition operational.