This submission by the CBD Women’s Caucus presents four proposals to strengthen coherence across the Rio Conventions and advance more coordinated implementation between biodiversity, climate, and land governance processes. Grounded in human rights and equity, the publication highlights practical pathways for addressing structural inequalities while supporting effective implementation of global environmental commitments.

The publication proposes:

• Alignment of Gender Action Plans across the Rio Conventions
  
  • Strengthening coordination between existing gender mandates and implementation frameworks
  • Promoting shared indicators, monitoring, and accountability mechanisms
  • Enhancing collaboration between gender constituencies and focal points across conventions
• Scaling responsive and accessible finance
  
  • Increasing direct access to funding for women-led and community-based organisations
  • Integrating social and gender criteria into environmental finance mechanisms
  • Supporting long-term, flexible, and transformative funding approaches
• Securing women’s land and resources rights
  
  • Recognising collective and customary tenure systems
  • Strengthening participation in governance and decision-making processes
  • Addressing barriers to equitable access, ownership, and control over natural resources
• Protection of women environmental human rights defenders
  
  • Strengthening safeguards, participation rights, and access to justice
  • Recognising the specific risks faced by defenders across environmental sectors
  • Promoting safer and enabling environments for advocacy and leadership

The submission ultimately calls for stronger collaboration across conventions to ensure that implementation efforts are mutually reinforcing, rights-based, and transformative.

This briefing, developed by the CBD Women’s Caucus and the UNFCCC Women and Gender Constituency, explores synergies between the CBD Gender Plan of Action (2023–2030) and the UNFCCC Belem Gender Action Plan (2026-2034) to support more coherent, coordinated, and gender-responsive implementation at national and local levels.

While developed under different Conventions, both Gender Plans provide complementary frameworks to advance gender equality across biodiversity and climate agendas. This publication highlights how aligning their objectives, mechanisms, and implementation pathways can strengthen efficiency, coherence, and impact in practice.

It offers a comparative overview of both frameworks and identifies concrete entry points for coordination across national planning processes, institutional arrangements, data systems, and financing. Drawing on the experience of both constituencies, the briefing also examines shared challenges, including fragmented implementation, limited resourcing, and the persistent under-recognition of women’s organisations as key actors in implementation.

The publication provides practical insights and recommendations to support governments, practitioners, and women’s organisations in advancing gender justice and strengthening implementation across climate and biodiversity agendas.