A new Women’s Carbon Standard has been launched to consider – for the first time - gender issues in climate change mitigation projects.

An article on GreenBiz website looks at how a standard which specifically addresses women might result in them receiving benefits from carbon markets. The aim is to “boost benefits to women in income, health, food security, education, leadership and increased discretionary time,” says the article.

The project has support from the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Christiana Figueres for its ability to measure impacts in mitigation projects that are making a difference in the quality of life for women.

One example project is the use of biodigesters to provide energy for gas cookstoves. This reduces smoke inhalation and does not require women to collect timber fuel from forests, leaving them with time for activities such as education, community leadership or entrepreneurial activities. The biodigesters also reduce carbon emissions.

The Women’s Carbon Standard has been field tested in Western Kenya at an agroforestry project funded by the Swedish International Development Agency and three pilot projects are planned in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, funded by the Asian Development Bank.

There is now further interest from donors and the private sector in relation to offsetting emissions and corporate social responsibility ventures.

Read the full story: How a new carbon standard seeks to benefit women worldwide