The gender divide in climate action: analyzing public willingness to participate in nature-based solution projects in Guyuan city, China

The nature-based solution (NbS) project, a key effort to tackle climate change risks and challenges and to achieve sustainable development, has garnered widespread public attention. Existing research lacks an examination of gender differences in public participation willingness in NbS projects. This study focused on the NbS project in Guyuan city, China. It delved into the gender differences and influencing factors of public participation willingness through extensive field surveys and multiple linear regression analysis. The results indicated that: (1) There were significant gender differences in public participation willingness, with males being more interested than females. (2) Public willingness was significantly influenced by perceived value, barriers of participation, motives for participation, and expectations for participation, and these factors had significant differences in their impact on males and females. The findings help the government address potential conflicts between men and women in the participation process and promote the successful implementation of NbS projects. © 2025 The Authors.