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Coherence in Action: Gender-Responsive, Rights-Based Policy Across the Rio Conventions

Join us for a timely webinar on the crucial need for an integrated approach to global environmental policy.
September 4, 2025September 18th, 2025

WHAT

Emerging from the 1992 Earth Summit, the Rio Conventions on climate, land degradation, and biodiversity were created to address these issues. However, it’s clear that these challenges are deeply interconnected, and our policy responses must be as well. This discussion will highlight key recommendations from civil society and governments on how to align the work of the Rio Conventions better. We’ll explore priority actions for enhancing policy coherence and embedding gender-responsive and human rights-based approaches to ensure equitable environmental action for all, especially women, Indigenous Peoples, and other marginalised groups.

This webinar is for representatives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Parties, major groups, stakeholders, and observers.

WHEN

Friday, 12 September 2025, from 3.00 pm to 4.30 pm CET. Please check your timezone here.

WHERE

Online event. Register for the event.

WHO

WHY

  • To highlight some of the key policy recommendations put together by civil society actors and governments towards addressing the issues of policy coherence across the Rio conventions
  • To understand specific priority actions towards achieving policy coherence
  • To engage directly with our expert speakers and a community of professionals passionate about building a more just and sustainable future.

Espanol

QUÉ

A raíz de la Cumbre de la Tierra de 1992, se crearon las Convenciones de Río sobre el clima, la degradación de la tierra y la biodiversidad para abordar estas cuestiones. Sin embargo, está claro que estos retos están profundamente interrelacionados, y nuestras respuestas políticas también deben estarlo. En este debate se destacarán las recomendaciones clave de la sociedad civil y los gobiernos sobre cómo armonizar mejor la labor de las Convenciones de Río. Exploraremos las medidas prioritarias para mejorar la coherencia de las políticas e incorporar enfoques que tengan en cuenta las cuestiones de género y se basen en los derechos humanos, con el fin de garantizar una acción medioambiental equitativa para todos, especialmente para las mujeres, los pueblos indígenas y otros grupos marginados.

Este seminario web está dirigido a representantes de las Partes del Convenio sobre la Diversidad Biológica (CDB), grupos importantes, partes interesadas y observadores.

CUÁNDO

Viernes, 12 de septiembre de 2025, de 15:00 a 16:30 CET. Por favor, compruebe su zona horaria aquí.

DÓNDE

Evento en línea. Inscríbase en el evento.

QUIÉN

POR QUÉ

  • Para destacar algunas de las recomendaciones políticas clave elaboradas por actores de la sociedad civil y gobiernos con el fin de abordar las cuestiones de coherencia política en las convenciones de Río.
  • Para comprender las acciones prioritarias específicas para lograr la coherencia política.
  • Para interactuar directamente con nuestros ponentes expertos y una comunidad de profesionales apasionados por construir un futuro más justo y sostenible.

Francais

QUOI

Issues du Sommet de la Terre de 1992, les Conventions de Rio sur le climat, la dégradation des sols et la biodiversité ont été créées pour traiter ces questions. Cependant, il est clair que ces défis sont profondément liés entre eux, et nos réponses politiques doivent l’être également. Cette discussion mettra en évidence les principales recommandations de la société civile et des gouvernements sur la manière de mieux harmoniser les travaux des Conventions de Rio. Nous explorerons les actions prioritaires visant à renforcer la cohérence des politiques et à intégrer des approches sensibles au genre et fondées sur les droits humains afin de garantir une action environnementale équitable pour tous, en particulier les femmes, les peuples autochtones et les autres groupes marginalisés.

Ce webinaire s’adresse aux représentants des parties à la Convention sur la diversité biologique (CDB), aux grands groupes, aux parties prenantes et aux observateurs.

QUAND

Vendredi 12 septembre 2025, de 15 h à 16 h 30 CET. Veuillez vérifier votre fuseau horaire ici.

Où

Événement en ligne. S’inscrire à l’événement.

QUI

POURQUOI

  • Pour mettre en avant certaines des principales recommandations politiques formulées par les acteurs de la société civile et les gouvernements afin de traiter les questions de cohérence politique entre les conventions de Rio.
  • Pour comprendre les actions prioritaires spécifiques visant à atteindre la cohérence politique.
  • Pour échanger directement avec nos experts et une communauté de professionnels passionnés par la construction d’un avenir plus juste et plus durable.

Event Summary

Women4Biodiversity, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), SwedBio, UN Women, and the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN), hosted a webinar, ‘Coherence in Action: Gender-Responsive Rights-Based Policy Across the Rio Conventions.’ The session was designed to highlight the vital need for policy coherence across the three Rio Conventions; the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), with a specific focus on gender responsiveness and rights-based approaches.

Setting the Stage: The Importance of Policy Coherence

At the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP 16) of the CBD, Decision 16/22 on Biodiversity and Climate Change was adopted, calling for enhanced policy coherence and the possibility of a joint work program across the three Rio Conventions. Initiatives such as the Joint Liaison Group, the Rio Conventions Pavilion, and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration have emerged to foster alignment but this presents a vital opportunity to aligning technical and procedural frameworks and align and center human rights, gender equality, and the meaningful participation of marginalised communities, including women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples in policies across the Rio Conventions.

The speakers emphasised that achieving gender-responsive, rights-based policies is not just beneficial but necessary for fostering just, inclusive, and sustainable transitions across global environmental agreements. The goal was to move beyond theoretical alignment on paper and ensure that human rights and gender equity are integrated into action.

Key Insights from the Webinar

The webinar began with a keynote address by Professor Elisa Morgera, the UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change and Human Rights, who set the tone for the discussions. Professor Morgera’s address focused on the recent findings from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which stressed the critical synergies between climate change, biodiversity, and human rights. She noted that the interconnection of these issues requires integrated action to avoid the pitfalls of fragmented responses that fail to address the root causes of environmental degradation. Her address highlighted the importance of ecosystem restoration as an effective remedy for mitigating the impacts of climate change. She called for a reevaluation of economic models to prioritise sustainability and equity over growth at all costs. This call was especially relevant as governments and organisations continue to grapple with the effects of climate change on vulnerable populations. The address concluded with a powerful reminder that the intersectionality of climate change and biodiversity requires a shift towards human-rights-based models of governance, which actively involve affected communities in decision-making processes. These remarks provided a solid foundation for the subsequent discussions on policy coherence.

Advancing Gender-Responsive Synergies Across the Rio Conventions

The next segment was led by Venge Nyirongo, an Intergovernmental Specialist at UN Women, who presented a working paper on advancing gender-responsive synergies across the three Rio Conventions. Venge’s paper outlined several recommendations for fostering long-term leadership:

  • Formalising Mechanisms for Synergistic Planning: Creating formalised processes for planning and coordination across the three conventions to ensure that gender considerations are integrated at all levels of policy and implementation.
  • Harmonising Communications and Outreach: Ensuring that gender-responsive strategies are communicated effectively, with the use of inclusive language and outreach campaigns that engage all sectors of society.
    Strengthening Gender-Responsive Implementation: Building on previous work, Venge discussed the need for continuous improvement in the implementation of gender-responsive policies across the Rio Conventions, with a particular focus on leadership and accountability.

This paper, which will be released on the margins and contribute to the upcoming intersessionals and meetings of the Conference of Parties to the Rio Conventions, aims to enhance gender-responsive practices and highlight the urgent need to integrate gender perspectives into climate and biodiversity policies more comprehensively.

Human Rights-Based Approaches in Climate Adaptation and Biodiversity Conservation

One of the core themes of the webinar was the integration of human rights-based approaches into both climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation. Ashanapuri Hertz, Head of Climate, Partnerships, and External Relations at SwedBio, presented key insights from multi-actor dialogues held in collaboration with various stakeholders. These dialogues emphasised the importance of creating synergies between the biodiversity, climate, and land degradation frameworks.

Ashanapuri highlighted the paradox within current frameworks, where although human rights are acknowledged in theory, implementation often prioritises quantitative targets (such as carbon emissions reduction or biodiversity preservation) over justice, equity, and rights-based principles. This misalignment often leads to policies that fail to adequately address the needs and rights of vulnerable communities.

The discussions from these dialogues culminated in a call for transformative action, one that centers human rights, gender equality, and equity in both climate and biodiversity responses. A key part of this action includes the establishment of a community of practice to support the application of human rights-based approaches at the local level, empowering affected communities and fostering sustainable and equitable outcomes.

IPBES Nexus Assessment Findings: A Holistic Approach to Global Crises

Dr. Nadia Sitas, Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Thematic Lead for Climate and Development Knowledge Network CDKN at & Senior Researcher at Centre for Sustainability Transitionsm, SouthSouthNorth presented key findings from the IPBES Nexus Assessment, which underscored the interconnectedness of biodiversity loss, climate impacts, food and water insecurity, and health challenges. Nadia emphasised that existing responses, though well-intentioned, are often too fragmented to address these interconnected crises holistically. The Nexus Assessment identified more than 70 potential response options that could simultaneously address these issues in a more integrated manner. These options included incorporating human rights-based approaches and diverse knowledge systems into decision-making processes. Nadia also highlighted the need for equity considerations and greater inclusivity in policy frameworks. The recommendations from the assessment will inform the broader policy dialogue and guide future negotiations, offering a roadmap for more cohesive and effective actions.

Youth Perspectives on Policy Coherence: The Call for Intergenerational Equity

Daniela Arredondo, an Environmental Policy Specialist and Project Manager at the Global Youth Biodiversity – Mexico chapter, presented the perspectives of youth on policy coherence. Daniela spoke about the critical importance of inter-generational equity, which emphasises the responsibility of current generations to ensure that future generations can meet their own environmental and developmental needs. Daniela highlighted the importance of involving youth not just as stakeholders, but as active decision-makers in governance processes. She also spoke about the need to harness youth-led initiatives and institutionalise environmental education to build capacity for the next generation of environmental leaders.

Strengthening Policy Coherence and Gender Integration in Climate and Biodiversity Plans

The final discussion of the webinar centered around strategies for strengthening coherence between the Rio Conventions and integrating gender and social inclusion into national biodiversity and climate action plans. Ciara Daniels, a UNDP Policy Specialist, presented a series of recommendations for aligning national policies in ways that promote gender equality and women’s leadership in environmental decision-making. Ciara emphasised that addressing gender gaps in the development and implementation of climate and biodiversity policies is essential for fostering more inclusive and equitable outcomes.

The panelists concluded that successful policy coherence must go beyond high-level alignment and focus on the cultural shift required in global climate and biodiversity governance. As Professor Elisa Morgera had pointed out earlier, there is a pressing need for the international climate regime to recognise the expertise of those most affected by climate change, especially women, youth, and Indigenous communities. The webinar showcased the urgent need for policy coherence that goes beyond technical alignment and engages with human rights, gender equality, and social justice.  As we approach the UN CBD COP 17 and the upcoming SBSTTA-27 and SB8(J)-01 in Panama, the recommendations and insights from this webinar offer invaluable guidance for policy coherence in action. These insights remind us that addressing the climate crisis and biodiversity loss is not just about environmental management, but about ensuring that the policies we create are just, inclusive, and grounded in human rights for all.