SDG 5: Gender Equality | SDG 13: Climate Action
Institutions: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
The UNEP-convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), with research led by Oxfam America, has released Towards Gender-Transformative Action on Super Pollutants (Sept 2025). The guidance maps how methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and tropospheric ozone-responsible for nearly half of global warming-disproportionately affect women, particularly in agriculture, waste, fossil fuels, household energy, transport, and cooling sectors.
The report stresses that women face greater exposure (e.g., cooking smoke, crop burning), fewer resources (credit, land, training), and lower representation in governance, yet also drive social innovation such as waste cooperatives and sustainable farming.
The report does not supply fresh statistics, but rather a qualitative guidance framework built on available evidence and policy analysis.
For India, which is rolling out its National Methane Action Plan and updating NDC targets, the guidance underscores the importance of integrating gender-disaggregated data, women-led cooperatives, and equitable access to clean energy and finance into climate policy. Embedding gender-transformative design into schemes like the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and Ujjwala Yojana can accelerate both emissions reduction and social equity.
What are Super Pollutants? → Super pollutants are short-lived climate pollutants-methane, black carbon, HFCs, and tropospheric ozone-that have a far higher warming impact than CO₂. Cutting them acts like “pulling the emergency brake” on climate change, with near-term health and climate benefits.
What are NDCs? → Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are country-level climate pledges under the Paris Agreement, outlining targets for reducing emissions and adapting to climate impacts. For India, NDCs frame commitments like cutting emission intensity by 45% by 2030 and achieving 50% cumulative electric power from non-fossil sources.
Follow the full news here: CCAC Publication