Out of the 30 Climate Conferences of the Parties (Climate COPs) held to date, only five women have been elected as Presidents. This highlights a persistent gender imbalance in the leadership of global climate governance. Despite some progress toward greater inclusion, the underrepresentation of women at the highest levels of Climate COP leadership reflects broader structural challenges in achieving gender equality in international decision-making processes. Strengthening efforts to promote diverse leadership is essential to ensure that climate negotiations are inclusive and representative of the global community they aim to serve.
It has also to be noted that for the 120 United Nations General Assembly (regular and special sessions), the underrepresentation is even more acute, only four women have served as Presidents. (List of chairpersons Climate COP & UNGA)
This striking underrepresentation underscores the ongoing gender disparity within the highest levels of global governance. Despite decades of advocacy for gender equality, the limited presence of women in this key leadership position reveals systemic barriers that still need to be addressed. Promoting more equitable representation at the Climate COPs is crucial to ensuring that international decision-making processes fully reflect the diversity and perspectives of all peoples.
Therefore and in alignment with the implementation with the IGC Geneva Pledge for Gender-Responsive Climate Action,
the International Gender Champions and 2050Today
are proposing a simple, direct and clear initiative
in the run-up to COP 30, where the presidency of COP 31 will be decided:
Publishing an joint Appeal calling on Parties to adhere
to specific criteria to ensure that future Climate COP presidencies are gender-balanced
The joint Appeal will be made public on the 15th October 2025 by presenting it to the Brazilian Presidency of the COP 30.
Make Climate COP Presidencies Gender-Balanced
Since the first Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP1) in Berlin in 1995, only five women have been designated as COP Presidents out of thirty. This highlights a persistent gender imbalance in the leadership of global climate governance. Despite some progress toward greater inclusion, the under-representation of women at the highest levels of Climate COP leadership reflects structural challenges in achieving gender equality in international decision-making processes. Strengthening efforts to achieve equitable representation in leadership is essential to ensure that climate negotiations are inclusive and representative of the global community they aim to serve, bearing in mind that climate change disproportionately impacts women and girls.
The upcoming Climate COP30 to be held in Belem, Brazil (10-21 November 2025) offers a critical opportunity to demonstrate inclusive representation across the full spectrum of humanity.
In line with the Lima Enhanced Work Programme on Gender and the upcoming adoption of its new Action Plan to promote gender balance, COP30 can improve the capacity to identify solutions, manage complex trade-offs and build consensus among stakeholders by implementing diverse leadership. By allocating the appropriate resources, policies and programmes, this balanced participation can translate into tangible impact.
Recognising the persistent gender imbalance in the presidencies of the Climate Conference of the Parties and noting that the last woman to serve as COP president did so in 2019, we invite the Parties and the Brazilian presidency to ensure a gender-balanced approach when selecting the host country for the 31st COP and subsequent conferences.
We call upon Parties to implement gender balance into future Climate COP presidencies by:
We are convinced that promoting more equitable representation at the Climate Conference of the Parties and at the United Nations is crucial to ensure that climate international decision-making processes fully reflect the diversity of voices, experiences and perspectives of all peoples.
