The Role of Ecofeminism in Shaping Global Climate Agreements

Abstract

This research explores ecofeminism as both a critical lens and a mobilising framework for restructuring international climate accords. It departs from the premise that the exploitation of the natural world and the subjugation of women are intrinsically linked to shared patriarchal and capitalist genealogies. The study highlights a paradigmatic shift in climate discourse—moving beyond technocratic mitigation strategies toward a holistic "climate justice" framework that internalizes gender justice and decenters Western-centric governance. Crucially, the research analyzes the feminist movement’s trajectory within the UN system, specifically highlighting its evolution during the Paris Agreement (2015) from symbolic presence to an institutionalized power capable of securing binding rights-based language and "gender-responsive" mandates. However, the study identifies a persistent "rhetoric-implementation gap" between international declarations, National Determined Contributions (NDCs), and climate finance, exacerbated by systemic constraints and the persistence of socio-blind technical approaches. Ultimately, it argues that genuine climate sustainability necessitates a shift from mere "nominal recognition" to the "redistribution of epistemic and financial authority," ensuring that feminist praxis is central to a truly just and transformative transition

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