The UN sexual and reproductive health agency reviewed the climate plans of 119 countries and found that only 38 have gender-sensitive components.This is a glaring disconnect. In countries most at risk to climate change, 'women and girls are disproportionately affected even though they have contributed the least to the global climate emergency,' said UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem.Even before the UNFPA released its report, the figures have already been skewed against women.
RA 9729 also mandated that the strategy must be inclusive and gender-responsive.Aligning its goals with the 2015 Paris Agreement for Climate Change, the Philippines came up with a climate plan that expands the definition of gender from just women to include persons of diverse sexual orientations.The Climate Change Commission reached out to different national government agencies in developing a gender-sensitive action strategy.The initiative has offered surprising insights.