Close to 70 International Gender Champions call upon the Parties of the Climate Conference (COP30) to implement gender balance into future Climate COP presidencies by ensuring that the host state guarantees full, equal, meaningful, effective and safe participation of women, by alternating the gender of the Climate COP presidency every year and by appointing representatives with gender balance to various leadership positions. The joint Appeal was submitted to the Brazilian Presidency of COP30 and will be presented during the Conference in Belem.
Out of the 30 Climate Conferences of the Parties (Climate COPs) held to date, only five women have been elected as Presidents. This highlights a persistent gender imbalance in the leadership of global climate governance. Despite some progress toward greater inclusion, the underrepresentation of women at the highest levels of Climate COP leadership reflects broader structural challenges in achieving gender equality in international decision-making processes. Strengthening efforts to promote diverse leadership is essential to ensure that climate negotiations are inclusive and representative of the global community they aim to serve.
This striking underrepresentation underscores the ongoing gender disparity within the highest levels of global governance. Despite decades of advocacy for gender equality, the limited presence of women in this key leadership position reveals systemic barriers that still need to be addressed. Promoting more equitable representation at the Climate COPs is crucial to ensuring that international decision-making processes fully reflect the diversity and perspectives of all peoples.
Therefore and in alignment with the implementation of the IGC Geneva Pledge for Gender-Responsive Climate Action, the International Gender Champions and 2050Today – The Geneva Climate Action Forum are proposing a simple, direct and clear initiative at COP30, where the presidency of COP 31 will be decided: A joint Appeal calling on Parties to adhere to specific criteria ensuring that future Climate COP presidencies are gender-balanced.
Close to 70 International Gender Champions, including Permanent Representatives from 27 COP Member States, have signed this Appeal to Parties in favour of gender-balanced presidencies. On behalf of the signatories, this appeal was submitted to the COP30 President, Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, with the request that it be forwarded to Member States for consideration in selecting the host country and Presidency for COP31 and subsequent conferences.
Contact:
Hannah Reinl
Project Manager, International Gender Champions Secretariat
[email protected]
Aline Bochenek-Benoit
Development, Communication & Training Manager
2050Today
[email protected]
+41 22 379 80 36
Full text + Signatories:Make Climate COP Presidencies Gender-Balanced