Agencia de Gobierno Electrónico y Sociedad de la Información y del Conocimiento

14 - Consultative process for the development of the Gender-based Action Plan on Climate Change

Brief description of the commitment: The new “Gender-based action plan on Climate Change” will be developed in a consultative manner, as an instrument that will integrate specific activities aimed at reducing gender gaps and recognizing the needs of women in their context in climate change response policies.

Uruguay, with its strong environmental and social commitment, assumes that gender equality is key to a fair ecological transition.

Organization leading the commitment: National Directorate of Climate Change (DINACC). Ministry of Environment.

Supporting Institutions/Organizations: Organizations that are part of the National System for Response to Climate Change and Variability, Departmental Governments, Organizations participating in the dialogues, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Responsible for the commitment: Fernanda Souza, National Director of Climate Change. Contact: fernanda.souza@ambiente.gub.uy

Technical head: Laura Marrero, Gender Officer. Contact: laura.marrero@ambiente.gub.uy   

Stakeholders:

1. Government: National Government institutions, departmental and municipal executives.
2. Society: Interested organizations.
3. Other actors (Parliament, private sector, etc.): Higher Education Centers.

Implementation period: September 2025 - June 2029.

Problem definition

What problem does the commitment intend to address?

This Plan aims to recognize and address inequality gaps that place women in situations of differential vulnerability, taking into account their diversity, trajectory, context and specific conditions in the face of climate change.

By integrating a gender perspective, the country can design fairer and more effective climate policies, ensuring that adaptation and mitigation measures not only reduce emissions but also address the needs of people who remain marginalized, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. Furthermore, this Plan will strengthen climate governance by promoting the equitable participation of women in decision-making at both local and national levels.

Due to the socio-cultural gender patterns still prevalent in our society, structural inequalities exist, such as persistent poverty, a relative lack of economic autonomy, discrimination, an excessive burden of unpaid work, and the prevalence of gender-based violence, which place women in a more vulnerable position. Furthermore, the invisibility of these inequalities and the relative lack of opportunities for participation have prevented the recognition of their capacity to respond and their acts of resistance, related, for example, to comprehensive care, upholding networks, and food security.

These inequalities have an impact on contexts affected by climate change, amplifying the gaps and generating new situations of vulnerability, but also responses that must be acknowledged.

What are the causes of the problem?

The asymmetrical distribution of power, the relative lack of economic, physical, and decision-making autonomy, based on the naturalization of culturally constructed gender roles. The integration of multiple vulnerabilities beyond gender, such as socioeconomic vulnerability, those caused by ethnic discrimination, identity issues, disability, and age, makes the impact of climate change differential and generates specific trajectories.

Description of the commitment

What has been done so far to solve the problem?

Uruguay has been developing an agenda at the intersection of gender and climate change, recognizing that environmental impacts do not affect everyone equally and that responses must address existing structural inequalities. Within this framework, various initiatives that connect climate justice with gender equality have been promoted, positioning the country as a regional leader in the development of inclusive and sustainable public policies. These include:

• The Gender and Climate Change Strategy marked a milestone by establishing a conceptual and operational framework for incorporating a gender perspective into national climate policies.
• Based on this, the first Gender and Climate Change Plan 2020–2024 was developed, translating the strategy into specific actions, goals and lines of work.
• In 2024, the Dialogue phase in the territory towards the new gender plan began.
• The gender perspective has also been integrated into key international climate policy instruments, such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).
• Finally, technical guidelines have been developed to integrate the gender perspective into the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (INGEI).

What solution does it propose?

The proposal is to generate a series of dialogues throughout the country, with broad participation, ensuring that it reaches networks and groups within civil society, the public sector, and the private sector interested in the topic. The aim is to gather the voices of women and diverse groups in different regions of the country. These meetings will allow for the identification of local challenges, the validation of lessons learned from the previous plan, and the collaborative development of priorities for the next action cycle. At the end of the process, a feedback and validation workshop will be held with the participants, and a summary document will be produced. The new Gender-based Plan on Climate Change is expected to be publicly presented in the first quarter of 2026.

What results do we want to achieve by implementing this commitment?

Greater equity in climate change planning, taking into account inequalities based on gender, territory, and other differentiating factors

To contribute to this acknowledgement by all actors in the public, private, and civil society sectors. To improve the participation and opportunities for influence by women, in all their diversity and context, in the response to climate change.

Commitment analysis

How will the commitment promote transparency?

The consultative process is documented, systematized, and shared with the people involved by applying quality standards for participatory processes. The public will have access to the Summary Document of the consultative process, and subsequently to the Gender-based Plan on Climate Change.

How will the commitment improve citizen participation in defining, implementing, and monitoring solutions? 

The consultative process for developing the Gender-based Plan on Climate Change is being conducted through an open call for participation. Participation is being systematically recorded, and graphic and video documentation will be made available to the general public through various platforms.