UN Climate Change News, 12 December 2025 – Adopted by Parties at COP30, the Belém Gender Action Plan (GAP) for 2026–2034 marks a new chapter for equality, ambition and inclusion in climate policy and action. It places gender equality at the heart of climate action – from safer participation to stronger data, finance, and technology.
Its adoption reflects the collective work of Parties and observers, standing as a powerful testament to multilateralism and to the shared commitment to advance inclusive and ambitious climate action.
A plan built for impact
The Belém GAP is designed to drive sustained, long-term gender-responsive climate policy and action, implementing the vision of the enhanced Lima work programme on gender. Spanning 2026 to 2034, it establishes a nine-year framework with built-in learning and accountability through regular reporting and a mid-term review in 2029.
Through its 27 activities and 98 deliverables, the plan will drive concrete action at every level. It calls on governments, UN entities, civil society, and other relevant organizations to work collectively to drive implementation – from the global to the local level.
No one-size-fits-all approach
Recognizing that climate change impacts people differently, the Belém GAP places a strong emphasis on “multidimensional factors.” For the first time, it explicitly references women and girls of African descent; women environmental defenders; migrant women; women smallholder farmers; women from rural and remote communities; and women with disabilities. It also deepens the discussion on the role of men and boys as allies in advancing both gender equality and climate action.
Safer spaces, better evidence, stronger systems
The Belém GAP promotes greater coherence in mainstreaming gender across the UNFCCC architecture and beyond – from the Global Stocktake and Just Transition to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Rio Conventions, as well as across conference organization and the secretariat’s own operations.
The plan outlines concrete actions to strengthen the evidence base for gender-responsive climate policies, including work on the nexus of climate and:
- Care work
- Health
- Violence against women and girls
- Safety and protection mechanisms for women
- Nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation
From commitment to implementation
The Belém GAP promotes gender-responsive climate finance, technology development, and capacity-building, while encouraging inclusive leadership and meaningful public engagement. It further strengthens the link between gender and the six elements of Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE): education, training, public awareness, public access to information, public participation, and international cooperation. The plan also enhances monitoring and voluntary reporting, including by Parties.
A new chapter for gender and climate
The Belém GAP is not an endpoint – it is a launchpad for accelerated progress. It represents the shared ambition of Parties, observers and partners to make gender equality a foundation for stronger, fairer and more resilient societies.
The Belém GAP sets the direction. Implementation begins now.
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