Women, who form the majority of the world’s 1.2 billion poorest people, are often disproportionally affected by climate change impacts as a result of persisting gender norms and discriminations. Women and men also contribute to climate change responses in different ways. The Cancun Agreements acknowledge that gender equality and the effective participation of women are important for all aspects of any response to climate to climate change, but especially for adaptation. 

Gender-responsive climate financing instruments and funding allocations are needed.  This is a matter of using scarce public funding in an equitable, efficient and effective way.  It also acknowledges that climate finance decisions are not made within a normative vacuum, but must be guided by the acknowledgement of women's rights as unalienable human rights. 

Gender considerations are not always addressed systematically in existing climate funds.  The new Green Climate Fund, current being operationalised, has the opportunity to distinguish itself from existing funds by integrating a gender perspective from the outset into its business model framework.  This note outlines some key principles and and actions for making climate financing instruments more gender-responsive.