Gender equality is recognised as a fundamental human right, enshrined in the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights (1948). In all spheres of life, it is a powerful driver for growth and social justice,
and a requirement for achieving sustainable development. Within the climate change arena, it
is fundamental to combatting climate change effectively. The significance of gender equality is
expressed in numerous national, regional and international legal instruments, aimed at eliminating
discrimination based on gender. This policy briefing emphasises the importance of gender equality in
the fight against climate change, with special reference to Africa. Among the key recommendations is
the need for genuine progress towards integrating gender equality into solutions to combat climate
change. Ultimately, this will require profound and systemic change involving gender mainstreaming
and transformation of gender relations and societal structures.
