2016 GLOBAL GENDER AND ENVIRONMENT OUTLOOK Copyright © 2016, UN Environment ISBN No: 978-92-807-3581-9 Job No: DEW/2012/NA Disclaimers The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UN Environment concerning the legal status of any country, territory or city or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. For general guidance on matters relating to the use of maps in publications please go to http://www.un.org/ Depts/Cartographic/english/htmain.htm Mention of a commercial company or product in this publication does not imply endorsement by the UN Environment. Reproduction This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit services without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. 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GLOBAL GENDER AND ENVIRONMENT OUTLOOK UNU-GEST WORLD CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE Gender Equality Studies DEVELOPMENT and Training Programme UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND GLOBAL GENDER AND ENVIRONMENT OUTLOOK Welcome to the Global Gender and Environment Outlook (GGEO). In this report the authors and the UN Environment Secretariat look at the links between gender and the environment and their importance for gender-sensitive policy-making and actions. The GGEO was first proposed to UN Environment by the Network of Women Ministers and Leaders for the Environment (NWMLE) at the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). In 2014 the United Nations Environment Assembly welcomed the development of the GGEO, together with the use of social science information and gender-relevant indicators to examine links between gender and the environment. The GGEO was developed and written by a global team of almost 50 experts, with inputs from major groups and international organizations as well as guidance from dozens of reviewers. Gender inequality is one of the most pervasive threats to sustainable development. It has negative impacts on access to, use of and control over a wide range of resources, and on the ability to meet human rights obligations with respect to enjoyment – by women and men – of a clean, safe, healthy and sustainable environment. The GGEO provides an overview of current knowledge and gives a first set of answers to the following key policy-relevant questions: • What social forces are producing the changes seen in the environment, and are they gender-dependent? • What are the large-scale consequences of on- going environmental changes for social systems and human security, and are these consequences gender- differentiated? • What do future projections and outlooks look like, are they gender-differentiated, and will there be different outcomes for women and men? • What actions could be taken for a more sustainable future that would position women and men as equal agents in taking such actions, and which socio-economic factors could shape different outcomes and responses for women and men? We look forward to the uptake of GGEO’s findings throughout the environmental sector at international and national levels. ii Photo credit: © Pearl Media/ shutterstock.com iii GLOBAL GENDER AND ENVIRONMENT OUTLOOK iv Foreword Changes in the environment affect women and men in different ways. It’s a problem made worse by women having less access to economic resources, education and legal rights. The only way to identify and implement the best policies for the environment and sustainable development is to close this gender gap. However, there is a lack of reliable data available for decision makers. That’s why this report explores the complex connections between environment, gender and human rights. The data and case studies explain how women’s role in social, economic and environmental development reaches far beyond issues of gender and inequality. The report analyses a wide variety of areas, including water, sanitation, energy, food security, forests, oceans, consumption and production. For example, women and children are most often responsible for household chores. In sub-Saharan countries, they spend 20 million hours a day collecting water, compared to 6 million hours for men. Understanding the wider causes, impacts and opportunities around such differences will make it easier to find solutions. The report also highlights that while many women are victims, many others are an active catalyst for change. For example, over a thousand wildlife rangers have been murdered in the last 10 years. This high-risk job demands physical and intellectual stamina, dedication and personal sacrifice. One of the most successful teams in the world is the Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit in South Africa, which is almost entirely comprised of women. They dramatically reduce poaching, not only through patrols, but by engaging the surrounding communities. Moving past the clichés to a more scientific and profound understanding of gender issues is crucial to developing more effective environmental policies. This report provides a crucial first step. I hope decision makers will use it in their daily work and contribute to expanding this unique source of knowledge in the years ahead. Erik Solheim United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, United Nations Environment v Photo credit: © senee sriyota/shutterstock.com GLOBAL GENDER AND ENVIRONMENT OUTLOOK Acronyms and Abbreviations ASM artisanal and small-scale mining BAU business-as-usual BPA bisphenol-A BRS Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions CBD United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity CDKN Climate and Development Knowledge Network CEDAW United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women CGIAR Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research CIFOR Center for International Forestry Research CO2 carbon dioxide COP Conference of the Parties COP21 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Paris, 2015 DALYs disability-adjusted life years DCPI Division of Communication and Public Information (UN Environment) DESA Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN) DEWA Division of Early Warning and Assessment (UN Environment) DDT dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane DRR disaster risk reduction DPSIR drivers, pressures, states, impacts, responses ECOSOC Economic and Social Commission of the United Nations EGI Environment and Gender Index (IUCN) ENERGIA International Network on Gender and Sustainable Energy EU European Union FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FUGs forest user groups GBV gender-based violence GDP gross domestic product GEO Global Environment Outlook (UN Environment) GGCA Global Gender and Climate Alliance GGEO Global Gender and Environment Outlook GIAs gender impact assessments GLASS Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking Water (UN-Water) GM genetically modified GSSU Gender and Social Safeguards Unit (UN Environment) GWA Gender and Water Alliance HAP household air pollution ICRW International Center for Research on Women IDRC International Development Research Centre IISD International Institute for Sustainable Development ILO International Labour Organization IMF International Monetary Fund INDC Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (greenhouse gas emissions reductions) vi IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature IUU illegal, unregulated and unreported (fishing) LGBT lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender MeHg methyl mercury MHM menstrual hygiene management NGO non-governmental organization NTFP non-timber forest product NWMLE Network of Women Ministers and Leaders for the Environment OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OHCHR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights PAN Pesticide