Kaleidoscope Trust Statement on Gender Definition Debate at COP30

London, 18 November 2025 | We are deeply concerned by last week’s reports that certain states are pushing to narrow the definition of “gender” at COP30 to mean strictly “biological sex,” as described in a recent Guardian article. 

As a global LGBTI+ rights organisation working for a world where LGBTI+ people are free, safe, and equal everywhere, we believe that any attempt to roll back inclusive and comprehensive gender language poses real risks. These risks not only attack trans and non-binary people, they also attack the broader goals of gender-responsive climate action by:

• Undermining recognised UN-language and established norms around gender diversity which are vital to addressing how climate change disproportionately affects marginalised communities.
• Threatening to reverse decades of advancement on gender equality. As quoted, “these are unprecedented times … Some countries … want to push us back to 30 years ago.” 

If the gender action plan at COP30 fails to reflect the diversity of people’s identities and experiences, it risks being less effective at addressing real inequalities. As it stands, only a small fraction of international climate finance is going to gender-responsive projects, despite the disproportionate burdens women and gender-diverse people face as a result of climate change. 

“We recognise that negotiations are complex, but narrowing the definition of gender is not a path to consensus- it is a path to exclusion. COP30 has an opportunity to reinforce its commitment to equality by retaining language that reflects the lived realities of all people.”

Alex Farrow, Chief Executive of Kaleidoscope Trust

We urge COP30 negotiators to protect and uphold inclusive gender definitions that reflect the realities of all gender identities, consistent with long-standing UN frameworks and we stand in solidarity with many climate and women’s rights advocates who believe imposing a narrow definition of gender can stall the negotiations themselves. 

Editor’s Note: Kaleidoscope Trust takes an intersectional approach to our advocacy and programmatic work. Key existential issues, including climate change, have a disproportionate impact on our communities- including many of our partners. This is why we’ve explored this issue in our climate change briefing and the 2024 CHOGM Shadow report – which forms a key component of our Global LGBTI+ Rights Commission.