Gender and Environment Statistics: Unlocking Information for Action and Measuring the SDGs
Publisher: United Nations Environment Programme
Author(s): Jillian Campbell, Cate Owren, and Molly Gilligan
Date: 2019
Topics: Climate Change, Extractive Resources, Gender, Governance, Land, Livelihoods, Renewable Resources
Countries: Kenya, Laos, Mexico
Gender equality and women’s empowerment are globally recognized priorities, matters of fundamental human rights, and prerequisites for sustainable development (IUCN, 2018; World Economic Forum, 2015). Understanding the gender- environment nexus is not only key to understanding social and environmental inequities and barriers to sustainable development, but to unlocking options for transformative action, as well.
Data gaps at this nexus, however, are persistent. Limited collection, dissemination and application of gender-environment statistics, including at national level, affects decision makers’ and practitioners’ knowledge and capacity to develop and adopt well-informed and effective policies and programming at all levels (UN Environment, 2016). The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and UN Environment are collaborating to develop an enhanced understanding of and enabling environment for gender-environment statistics, particularly to identify specific indicators that can gather necessary information and strategies for national action as stakeholders work toward meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).