Empowering National Human Rights Institutions to Advance Rights-Based Climate Action 11 1.4. Framework for Integrating Human Rights and Gender Equality Climate change exacerbates existing gender inequalities, disproportionately affecting women and marginalised groups by increasing their vulnerability to environmental hazards, reducing access to resources, and limiting their participation in decision-making processes. In view of this reality, incorporating human rights and gender equality in the Needs Assessment and Gap Analysis will ensure that the most vulnerable populations are protected, and their voices are included in decision-making processes. This approach promotes equitable solutions, addressing both the environmental and social impacts of climate change, while fostering resilience and justice for marginalised communities. Therefore, in order to fully incorporate human rights and gender equality in the assessment and analytical process, and to use a gender lens in particular in assessing NHRI practices, Framework for Integrating Rights and Equality (FIRE) is used as the analytical framework in this document. FIRE is a comprehensive tool that consolidates gender equality principles and key international human rights standards relevant to disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation.55 Developed through a partnership between the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI), the Stockholm Environment Institute, the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, and the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, FIRE aims to ensure that DRR and climate adaptation efforts are inclusive and aligned with human rights and gender equality.56 FIRE consists of six dimensions, which provide a structured approach to integrating human rights and gender equality into DRR and climate change adaptation. It has been successfully piloted in initiatives such as risk assessment, land use planning, and emergency preparedness, proving its effectiveness as a tool for research, legal and policy analysis, training, and education. 55 Raoul Wallenberg Institute, ‘Framework for Integrating Rights and Equality (FIRE)’ (2024) <https://rwi.lu.se/fire/>. Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, ‘Integrating Rights and Equality in Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Resilience Key International Standards and Guidelines’ (2022) <https://rwi.lu.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/FIRE-international-standards-and-guidelines-FINAL.pdf>. 56