This submission by India is an overview of the goal of gender balance in order to improve women’s participation and inform more effective climate change policy that addresses the needs of women and men equally. This first submission highlights the ongoing policies and practices with an overarching goal of women’s empowerment.  

Mary Robbinson, Chairperson of the Mary Robbionson Climate Foundation (MRCF), spoke on ‘Women’s Leadership on Gender and Climate Change’, prior to COP 17 at Durban in 2011, emphasising the need to recognize women’s leadership at every level when dealing with issues of climate change. Women’s leadership begins at the grassroots level where climate change shocks impact women far more severely than men and women often assume leadership roles in dealing with these impacts.