The Gender Gap in Green Growth: UNDP Reveals Why Women Must Lead the Fight Against Pollution

A UNDP report reveals how empowering women in agriculture, mining, refrigeration and waste management can reduce pollution, create green jobs and strengthen sustainable development. Drawing on projects across seven countries, the study calls for greater access to training, finance and leadership opportunities to overcome gender inequality and build inclusive green economies.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has called for stronger gender equality in environmental protection, warning that women remain disproportionately exposed to hazardous chemicals while facing barriers to employment, finance and decision-making. Its 2026 report, Creating Opportunities: Gender Equality and Empowerment Across UNDP's Cooling, Circularity and Pollution Prevention Portfolio, examines nine projects across Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan. Drawing on interviews with 27 stakeholders, including 17 women and 10 men, the study highlights how gender-responsive environmental programmes can reduce pollution, improve livelihoods and create economic opportunities.

Supported through initiatives financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol, the review shows that environmental sustainability and women's economic empowerment are closely connected. However, progress depends on overcoming traditional gender roles, improving access to technical training and ensuring women participate in decisions affecting their communities.

Hidden Risks: Why Pollution Hits Women Harder

Hazardous chemicals, pesticides, industrial waste and mercury contamination threaten communities worldwide, but their effects are not equally distributed. Women frequently encounter harmful substances through agricultural activities, household responsibilities, waste handling and informal employment.

Many women working in agriculture and recycling lack protective equipment, technical knowledge and workplace safeguards. Their contributions also remain poorly recognized in official employment systems, making it harder for governments to design effective protection measures.

UNDP argues that women must be recognized not only as vulnerable populations but also as essential contributors to environmental solutions. Their participation in technical occupations, entrepreneurship and community leadership can improve chemical safety, strengthen waste management and accelerate sustainable development.

The report identifies five important approaches: technical training, economic empowerment, female leadership, inclusive governance and measures addressing gender-based violence.

Breaking Barriers in Green Jobs and Industrial Work

In Colombia, UNDP-supported initiatives are helping women enter the traditionally male-dominated refrigeration and air-conditioning industry. Although women represent approximately 20% of the broader cooling workforce, their participation in technical occupations is often below 10%.

The programme supported professional certification for 30 female technicians and established a national network involving 96 women. Seven female technicians were also undergoing training to become instructors or evaluators, creating opportunities for women to develop technical careers.

Another Colombian initiative addressing industrial pollutants involved 23 organizations in chemical management activities. A leadership workshop reached 92 participants, including 55 women, while companies received guidance on integrating gender equality into workplace safety and environmental management.

Ghana introduced similar measures through technical training and school outreach. Eighteen women received specialized training, while educational partnerships encouraged girls to explore careers in refrigeration and environmentally friendly technologies.

Uzbekistan expanded women's access to refrigeration-sector entrepreneurship. More than 70 women received business skills training, and 20 business plans were developed to support potential enterprises.

These initiatives demonstrate how environmental modernization can create skilled employment opportunities while challenging occupational stereotypes.

Women Farmers and Miners Drive Cleaner Production

In Ecuador, the Financing Agrochemical Reduction and Management programme promotes safer farming practices while expanding women's participation in agricultural innovation.

Its AgroConCiencia initiative reported 3,477 women beneficiaries, representing approximately 38% of beneficiaries. Women also accounted for 56% of participants in in-person capacity-building activities, reflecting efforts to improve their access to agricultural knowledge and sustainable technologies.

Ecuador's planetGOLD initiative addresses inequalities in artisanal gold mining, where women often work informally without adequate equipment, financing or leadership opportunities. The programme strengthened women's associations and promoted their participation in decisions concerning mercury reduction and responsible mining.

Indonesia's mercury management programme reached 459,893 direct beneficiaries through awareness activities and mercury-free technology promotion, with women representing approximately 45%. Broader awareness programmes reached 20,308 individuals, while the project supported women's cooperatives and established two gender-responsive villages.

In Lao PDR, sustainable agriculture initiatives reached 5,481 beneficiaries, including 2,044 women. Technical training benefited 2,677 people, including 1,238 women.

However, women's participation remained below the programme's 50% target, highlighting barriers linked to household responsibilities, social expectations and limited access to agricultural services.

From Environmental Policies to Economic Empowerment

Sri Lanka's refrigeration programme combined institutional gender training with environmental education for girls through the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association. Its Ozone Friends Badge initiative encouraged young participants to understand ozone protection and environmental responsibility.

Across the reviewed countries, UNDP identifies persistent challenges involving inadequate funding, occupational stereotypes, limited recognition of informal workers and difficulties measuring long-term outcomes.

Although projects frequently record the number of women trained or consulted, they often lack sufficient evidence showing whether participation leads to lasting improvements in income, leadership or environmental performance.

For policymakers, the findings underline the importance of integrating gender equality into environmental regulations, agricultural services, industrial training and financial support programmes.

For businesses, expanding women's access to technical skills and entrepreneurship can strengthen workforce diversity, occupational safety and sustainable production. Consumers and communities may also benefit from safer agricultural practices, reduced pollution and improved environmental awareness.

Gender equality must become a central component of environmental policy rather than a secondary social objective. Stronger financing, inclusive institutions and better monitoring will be essential to ensuring that the transition towards cleaner industries and circular economies delivers lasting benefits for women, businesses and communities.