The following sections present identified gaps and barriers challenging the implementation of the UNFCCC GAP across the Nordic countries. To maintain consistency with the UNFCCC GAP's framework, the identified gaps and barriers have been categorised in accordance with the five priority areas. However, these gaps and barriers are not isolated to the distinct priority areas. Rather, they are interlinked, reflecting the complexity of the issues involved. Additionally, the national approaches and progress levels in implementing the UNFCCC GAP vary across the Nordic countries, which means that the significance, relevance and applicability of the identified gaps and barriers vary for each nation.
Domestic under-prioritisation
While the Nordic region is a frontrunner in both gender equality and climate policies, policymakers risk overlooking the relevance of integrating gender perspectives into domestic climate policy. This is particularly notable in Denmark and Norway. Across all five countries, interviewed stakeholders express that the specific priority of focusing on gender in climate policy and action often comes across as limited, pointing to space for improvement in terms of both integrating gender equality in climate policy and communicating on the gender mainstreaming efforts made.
Another barrier in this regard is that the policy areas of both gender and climate policy are politicised domains within the five Nordic countries – not in terms of whether gender equality and green, just transition is imperative, but in terms of what measures are needed to promote and realising it.
Inadequate utilisation of data and lack of gender analyses
Insufficient utilisation of data poses a barrier to demonstrating the importance and relevance of gender mainstreaming in climate policies to policymakers, including conducting gender analyses. While the argument of “lack of data” is encountered in this review, the actual barrier seems to be the underutilisation of existing data, and thereby also a lack of resources allocated for looking into, gathering, and applying existing data. The underutilisation of data stems from inadequacies in political prioritisation, resource allocation, knowledge dissemination and communication, resulting in a lack of awareness.
Lack of gender mainstreaming tools and training for climate policymaking
Although tools and training for gender mainstreaming are accessible to public authorities and policymakers in certain countries, there is a noticeable scarcity – or lack - of resources specifically tailored for the gender mainstreaming in climate policies. Regarding domestic climate policy, this obstacle is perpetuated by the fact that the concept of gender mainstreaming has traditionally been performed in the realm of international development policy and programming. Thus, this review finds that gender mainstreaming in the field of climate policy – especially domestic climate policy – needs more support in terms of both political will, knowledge dissemination, guiding resources and training.
Differences in gender mainstreaming terminology can challenge cross-Nordic dialogue
This review reveals significant inconsistencies in gender mainstreaming terminology and concepts across the Nordic countries, with each nation adopting different terms and interpretations, for instance, in the concepts of gender impact assessments and gender analysis. If the gender mainstreaming concepts are clearly defined and communicated within the countries, these discrepancies do not necessarily affect internal efforts within each country. However, they can challenge communication and exchange across the Nordic countries as well as cross-Nordic evaluations and reviews, as for instance Gender Impact Assessment is one thing in one country and another in another country.
Risk of overlooking the importance of gender balance in STEM
The UNFCCC GAP does not explicitly address the importance of gender imbalances in STEM fields. However, in implementing priority area B focusing on gender balance, participation, and women’s leadership, it is crucial to go beyond merely increasing the numerical representation of women in international climate negotiations, delegations, and UNFCCC processes. The underrepresentation of women in STEM fields and, by extension, in green jobs poses a significant barrier to achieving gender equality in the Nordic countries’ green transition. This disparity not only reflects existing gender imbalances in education and employment but also risks perpetuating these inequalities as the green transition progresses.
Techno-framing of climate policies and green transition
Climate change is frequently portrayed as a technological challenge. This calls for expertise primarily found in the male-dominated STEM fields, overshadowing the social dimensions of climate change and the contributions of professionals from non-STEM backgrounds. In other words, focusing exclusively on STEM risks side-lining the social dimensions of climate change and the contributions of women and non-STEM professionals in climate action. Furthermore, the absence of specific measures acknowledging the significance of unpaid care and domestic work in the green transition poses a risk of exacerbating gender inequality, as women in the Nordic countries continue to bear the brunt of unpaid domestic work.
Limited coordination and coherence in gender equality work
In Denmark and Norway, the absence of inter-ministerial working groups and/or agencies with gender expertise hinders the translation of the UNFCCC GAP into national governance and the coordination of gender mainstreaming in climate policies across relevant ministries, offices, and public institutions. Additionally, the limited allocation of specific resources, such as funding and personnel crucial for gender mainstreaming, further impedes its effective implementation. This challenge is not just confined to financial resources but also extends to the lack of dedicated personnel tasked with driving the gender mainstreaming agenda. The lack of coordination and resources is fundamentally a question of political will and prioritisation and can be strengthened in all of the Nordic countries.
Absence of comprehensive strategies targeting the implementation of the UNFCCC GAP
A notable gap in the Nordic implementation of the UNFCCC GAP is the general absence of dedicated national strategies for implementing the specific GAP priority areas and activities. Sweden stands out for its draft strategy aimed at gender mainstreaming the implementation of the Paris Agreement, which is based on a national translation of the UNFCCC GAP into a Swedish context. However, such targeted approaches remain rare, highlighting a widespread barrier to fully implementing the UNFCCC GAP. The importance of a focused strategy and/or action plan for gender mainstreaming the implementation of the Paris Agreement, including objectives and indicators, is also desirable in order to ensure the foundation for systematic monitoring and evaluations, which is lacking today.