At the recent United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), the international community acknowledged that gender equality and sustainable development are intrinsically linked. United Nations Member States defined sustainable development broadly, emphasizing that reducing poverty and eliminating inequalities –including gender inequalities – are as central as protecting the environment . This publication is a collection of evidence-based papers by scholars and practitioners exploring the interconnections between gender equality and sustainable development across a range of sectors and issues. Specialists offer insights, critiques, lessons learned and concrete proposals for promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in international and national sustainable development efforts. The papers also provide evidence and recommendations for integrating gender equality into the post-2015 sustainable development discourse. Women’s equal access to and control over resources not only improve the lives of individuals, families and nations but also helps ensure environmental sustainability. The authors stress the necessity and highlight the benefits of securing women’s active participation in all stages of decision-making, ensuring their legal and political empowerment and including them in devising strong gender-responsive legal frameworks.