Panel (from left to right): Jonathan Stone of the IFRC Climate, Environment and Resilience Unit,f Khulan Berger, Co-director of Climate Bridges, H.E. Ambassador Christian Guillermet Fernandez of Costa Rica, H.E. Ambassador Nikola Gilhoff of Germany, Aishath Rayahyn at the Permanent Mission of Republic of Maldives
The climate crisis disrupts ecosystems and livelihoods globally, but women, girls, and marginalised communities often bear the heaviest burden. Water issues - from building flood resilience and protecting livelihoods to ensuring access to safe, clean drinking water - are no exception to that. And yet, fewer than 50 countries have laws or policies that specifically mention women’s participation in rural sanitation or water resources management.
To address this issue, the Permanent Mission of Germany, in partnership with the International Gender Champions Secretariat, the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and Climate Bridges, convened “Climate Talk” on Water and Women: A Geneva perspective on 20th March 2025. This event brought together policymakers, civil society and member states, to discuss how women’s participation in climate governance can drive stronger solutions. It was hosted on the margins of the Global workshop on increasing climate resilience with focus on floods and health on the transboundary and national levels, organised under the auspices of the UN Water Convention and its Protocol on Water and Health, and the Convention’s Task Force on Water and Climate, that was held in Geneva from 19-21 March 2025.
Opening the event, Ambassador Nikola Gilhoff of Germany highlighted the urgency and relevance of the discussion: “Gender equality is a fundamental pillar of climate policy and a prerequisite for more equitable and sustainable solutions”. She noted that at least 12 organizations in Geneva work on water-related issues, calling for coordinated action at the international level and deeper integration of women’s perspectives in all water-related policies.
Ambassador Christian Guillermet Fernandez of Costa Rica shared his country’s best practices on water governance, grounded in the constitutional right to clean water and sanitation. He highlighted that over 92% of Costa Ricans have access to clean water, crediting the country’s model where regional and community-level authorities administer water management, with 25 % of board positions occupied by women.
Keynote speaker Tatiana Molecan, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) , pointed out that two billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation. She noted the right to safe drinking water and sanitation as a fundamental matter of dignity. Further, she emphasized that “women face a disproportionate burden,” stating that fewer than 50 countries have explicit laws addressing women’s participation in water policy. She finalised her remarks by reiterating the need for International Geneva to continue breaking down silos and work together to advance the agenda of a more gender-equitable climate resilience strategy.
The UN Special Envoy for Water, Retno L. P. Marsudi, underscored that access to water and sanitation “goes hand in hand” with advancing women’s rights. In many parts of the world, women spend hours each day collecting water, limiting their opportunities for education and economic participation.
She called on policymakers to “champion water security and gender equality as inseparable priorities.”
The speaker interventions were followed by a panel discussion on the importance of integrating gender equality into water governance and the challenges it posed. Khulan Berger, Co-Director of Climate Bridges, described how communities in drought-stricken Mongolia suffer acute challenges in water access.
Aishath Rayahyn, speaking on behalf of the Permanent Mission of the Maldives emphasized that water security is inseparable from climate resilience and gender equality. In the island nation, women bear primary responsibility for household water management—often making “the toughest choices” under increasingly unpredictable climate conditions, with the failure to integrate gender risks deepening vulnerabilities and reinforcing cycles of poverty. Jonathan Stone, Manager of the IFRC’s Climate, Environment and Resilience Unit, observed that solutions to water shortages are too often designed by men without consulting women, the very individuals most affected by water scarcity. He called for stronger anticipatory action and more effective mainstreaming of gender considerations, going far beyond a tick-box exercise.”
The panel discussion ended with virtual remarks from Elisa Morgera, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change, and Alejandra Nohora Quiguantar, IGC Youth Champion and Indigenous Leader for Climate Justice, who both reiterated the need to spotlight the critical linkages between climate change, water, and gender equality.
Overall, the meeting served to:
- Raise awareness of the gender dimensions in water-based climate action, showcasing research and policy approaches that integrate gender considerations.
- Facilitate dialogue between international organisations, policymakers, and civil society on the intersection of gender, water, and climate.
- Highlight best practices and existing initiatives that promote gender equality in water governance.
- Strengthen partnerships and de-silo activities among actors engaged in gender-responsive water and climate policies.