Women often bear the brunt of climate change impacts, but they are also key drivers of climate solutions. From local communities to global negotiations, women bring critical knowledge, leadership and resilience to the table.

Today, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell met with Women Climate Leaders to discuss the urgent need for systemic change to achieve gender balance within the UN Climate Change process.

“Women are making extraordinary contributions – in communities, in cabinets, in negotiation rooms, in science and policy, in business and beyond,” said Stiell. “But we must also face facts: despite progress, gender balance remains elusive, and gains have not been consistent. I reaffirm my full commitment to working on opening more spaces in our process for women in all their diversity, as well as improving data and reporting that help us track progress.”

Speaking at a special event to mark the 10-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement today, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell stressed that there are two sides to the 10-year anniversary. 

It's both a moment to reflect on all that has been achieved and a moment to serve as an inflection point to step it up. 

"This must be the decade of delivery," said Stiell. "Of acceleration. Of implementation on the ground. And I’m not talking about grand gestures or virtue signaling – I’m talking about blueprints for real-world economic opportunity; for security; for resilience; for growth.  Backed up by real delivery."