5.7. Gender, Environment and Climate Change Although Zimbabwe has taken a firm stance towards attaining the Millennium Development Goal 7 on Environmental Sustainability, and is developing national programmes on climate change adaptation and mitigation there have been limited gender considerations in policy frameworks on the management and protection of environment and natural resources in Zimbabwe New mechanisms for climate change mitigation and environmental management that incorporate gender-sensitive perspectives need to be sought. This NGP therefore commits to spearheading a specific gender responsive effort in management of the environment particularly focusing on the exacerbation effects of climate change on pre-existing inequalities between men and women. Policy Objective: To increase gender responsiveness of the environment and natural resources management strategies and in climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives Policy Strategies i. Conduct a review of current environment and natural resources management policies and strategies and audit for gender considerations, identify gaps, recommend advocate for the incorporation of gender perspectives. ii. Support initiatives that aim to actualise the constitutional environmental rights iii. Conduct research to collect gender segregated data that highlight environment challenges and climate change induced inequalities among women and men, and recommend gender responsive strategies. iv. Build the capacity of state and non state development agencies in gender mainstreaming in environment and climate change policies, programmes and national environmental action plans. v. Contribute to the development and regular reviews of the National Climate Change Policy and Response Strategy, the National Biodiversity Strategy and other related national strategies ensuring they adequately incorporate gender considerations. vi. Support interventions aimed at increased participation of both females and males in the sustainable utilisation of natural resources for economic benefits including opportunities for carbon trading. vii. Ensure national level strategies for climate induced disaster management and risk reduction and coping mechanisms are gender responsive. 19