Making Climate Action Count: Mainstreaming Gender in Climate Action to Accelerate Climate Compatible Development

The first universal, legally binding global climate accord signed at the 21st session of the Conference of Parties (COP) in Paris in 2015 committed to long-term goals for “holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre- industrial levels.” However, as world leaders prepare for the Facilitative Dialogue (FD) ahead of COP 24 in December 2018, there is a realisation that fulfilling the climate pledge and ensuring a rapid transition to low- carbon and climate-resilient economies and societies would require unprecedented efforts and reallocation of capital that significantly exceed their capacities. This paper argues that optimising development co-benefits from the simultaneous implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as goal 5 on Gender Equality and 13 on Climate Action, is an essential and powerful solution for the success of the Paris Agreement and 2030 Agenda.