Equality in the climate crisis – How can Finland promote gender equality in international climate policy?

Finland influences international climate policy in many ways, for example by participating in climate negotiations and initiatives, granting international climate funding and practicing climate diplomacy. But how can Finland harness these actions to promote equality in international climate policy? This question is examined in a report “Equality in the climate crisis – How can Finland promote gender equality in international climate policy”  which was published on 16.9.2021. The report was commissioned by Plan International Finland. 

The climate is an issue of equality, and on the other hand, equality is a climate issue. That is why the equality perspective should be more intertwined with climate policy, as well as climate issues should be intertwined with equality work. Equality and international climate policy are vast themes, and it is not always simple to combine them. However, combining them is very important, because the climate crisis is affecting equality all over the world.

The report indicates that Finland has promoted equality in its international climate policy, but there is a need for more resources and planning. However, equality in Finland’s international climate policy has so far focused mainly on development cooperation and climate negotiations, so the equality perspective should be further strengthened in other foreign policy as well. 

The report suggests a few recommendations, for example increasing equality awareness in climate work, continuing to support women negotiators from the Global South and promoting equality in international cooperation with like-minded countries. There is a need for more organised equality work which could be promoted by systematically collecting data and setting indicators for work for equality. Funding as well as other means of international support should be targeted in ways that promote equality. One of the central messages is that among other reasons, Finland should achieve carbon neutrality by 2035 for equality reasons as well, and Finland should aim to steer other countries to the same direction. 

The report is available here.