UN Women to Launch 2026 Report on Gender Equality at COP31

UN Women is set to launch its flagship report, Progress of the World's Women 2026: Gender Equality in the Age of Climate Crisis, on November 10 during the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye.

The report examines how climate change deepens gender inequality and highlights the disproportionate impact of environmental challenges on women and girls, particularly those living in poverty.

The report explores the unequal responsibilities and consequences associated with the climate crisis, highlighting that the world's wealthiest populations, predominantly men, have contributed significantly to global emissions, while women and girls face some of the most severe consequences.

They are at higher economic, social and health risks, but contribute less to climate change causes. The report points out that women and girls are more vulnerable to violence and child marriage due to prolonged droughts, and greater temperatures pose further health risks to women during pregnancy.

Key Highlights:

• UN Women launches its 2026 report on gender inequality and climate change at COP31
• The report highlights the impact of climate change on women's health, safety and livelihoods
• UN Women calls for greater women's participation in climate decisions and equal access to climate finance

Women also are expected to devote more time to unpaid care work, such as getting water and coping with extreme weather events, because of water scarcity. This publication looks at the impact of climate change on the safety, health, employment and livelihood of women. It also assesses the effectiveness of government climate plans in dealing with gender-specific challenges.

Moreover, the report emphasises women environmental defenders, Indigenous leaders and the feminist movement in tackling environmental issues and advancing climate action.

UN Women urges climate justice that is feminist, ensuring equitable responsibilities, decent climate investment, and increased funding for care systems and gender equality. Additionally, the organisation calls for the greater involvement of women in decision-making processes related to climate change, noting that there is a lack of representation of women in environmental sustainability-related decision-making processes.

UN Women calls on leaders around the world to ensure women and girls are at the core of the transition from fossil fuels before negotiations for COP31 begin. It urges the major emitters to be more responsible and make sure that the communities most impacted by climate change receive climate finance. The organization also emphasizes the need for women to have the rights, resources and opportunities to lead climate solutions.