Key Findings of the Report:
Global Imbalance: Across all three conventions (UNFCCC, UNCCD, CBD), men hold 496 (60%) focal point roles compared to 334 (40%) held by women.
Convention Disparities: The UNCCD has the lowest female representation (35%), while the UNFCCC and CBD stand at 41% and 45%, respectively.
Regional Gaps: Africa faces the steepest challenge, with women representing only 25% of focal points, whereas Eastern Europe leads with 67% female representation.
Exclusive Representation: 51 countries are represented entirely by men across all three conventions, compared to only 17 countries represented entirely by women.
Parity is Rare: Only 19 countries (10%) have achieved equal gender representation across their environmental focal points.
Leadership Trends: While women are gaining ground in some regions, systemic barriers continue to hinder their appointment to high-level technical and negotiating roles.
Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada – 25 November 2025: Inclusive representation is fundamental to equitable and effective environmental governance, particularly in addressing the interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation, the three focus areas of the well-known Rio Conventions.
Women, who are often disproportionately affected by these crises through limited access to resources, health risks, and economic opportunities, bring unique perspectives that are essential for crafting comprehensive policies. Yet, systemic gender imbalances persist, limiting the diversity of voices in decision-making and potentially weakening global responses to the triple planetary crisis.
A new report by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health ( UNU-INWEH
