Care, climate and a just transition: Guidance note for UN Women and partners

Climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation are increasing the demand for care while simultaneously weakening the systems that provide it. These impacts are felt most acutely by women and girls – who continue to provide the majority of unpaid care work and are heavily represented in paid care sectors – especially those in low-income households and rural communities in the Global South.

The global care crisis and the triple planetary crisis are deeply interconnected. The urgency of addressing this nexus has never been greater. This guidance note was developed to support UN Women, governments, civil society organizations, development partners, and other practitioners working across care, climate, environmental, and just transition agendas. It provides a practical framework for understanding the care–climate nexus and identifying opportunities for action across policy, programming, coordination, advocacy, and financing.