Women, Faith, & Climate Network

"So, let us disrupt. Let us agitate. Let us push faith communities beyond their comfort zones, forging new alliances, breaking old barriers, and stepping boldly into the work of radical, uncompromising climate justice. The future of our children, of our Earth, of creation itself, depends on it." On #InternationalWomensDay, Shahin Ashraf MBE, calls for radical collaboration for climate justice, and shares how women of faith are rising. #IWD2025 #CSW69 #Climate #Gender #WomenLead #Network

?? 'We are the women leaders that we've been looking for' Shahin Ashraf MBE, discusses why women of faith have the power and networks to lead on climate action, and should have an equal seat at the table in conversations on the climate crisis. #internationalwomensday #IWD2025 #accelerateaction

Did you know that women are front and centre to the climate justice movement implementing positive solutions to mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis? This International #WomensDay, we are celebrating 3 women that have inspired the world to take a stand for the natural world. ?? Ineza Umuhoza Grace - Rwanda Ineza Umuhoza Grace is a Rwandan activist with a passion for the environment, feminism and animation! During her time at university, she was selected to be part of a delegation to COP 15 of the United Nations Convention on Combating Desertification. That experience inspired her to find ways to engage more young people in climate action. She founded The Green Protector- a network platform for youth engagement in protecting the environment. The following year, she was selected to be a climate change negotiator for the Rwandan delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. There she provided a key perspective on how climate change was affecting youth in Africa. The Green Protector has become a key partner with Trócaire in #Rwanda, engaging thousands of children and youth in Rwanda and further afield on climate action. ?? Mary Robinson- Ireland Mary Robinson has championed women’s rights and other progressive causes since the 1970s before being elected as Ireland’s first female President in 1990. President Robinson became the first Head-of-State to visit war-torn Somalia during the devastating famine. The power of her visit and her testimony to the world had a resounding impact and deepened relations between #Ireland and #Somalia for decades to come. As the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Climate Change and more recently as Special Envoy on El Ni?o and Climate along with Macharia Kamau of Kenya, Mary has helped to focus the world’s attention on the mounting effect of extreme weather events on the world’s poorest and most vulnerable communities. Mary Robinson is also co-founder of Project Dandelion a women-led movement for climate justice. ?? Berta Cáceres – Honduras Berta Cáceres was an indigenous Lenca environmental activist. She co-founded the Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH). COPINH became a key partner for Trócaire in the region, providing support to environmental and Human Rights Defenders. Berta led her community’s struggle against deforestation, dam construction and dangerous mining activities on indigenous lands. She successfully waged a grassroots campaign that pressured the world’s largest dam builder to pull out of the Agua Zarca Dam. She was later shot dead in 2016, just for defending indigenous land rights and human rights. Read more about these inspiring women ?? https://lnkd.in/eSME2B6Z Center for Justice and International Law - CEJIL

The Women Faith and Climate Network is co-hosting a dynamic Side Event at the UN Commission on the Status of Women #CSW69 with Ireland, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and the UN Environment Programme. On: 13th March 2025, 13:30 - 14:15 EDT At: Tzu Chi Center and Virtual Co-moderated by Azza Karam, and Rachel Tavernor, with members from across the Women, Faith, and Climate Network. Remember to register in advance: https://lnkd.in/eDtqdYBM #CSW69 #ClimateJustice #GenderJustice #Network #WomenLead

Great news from network member Ridhima Pandey - well done Ridhima for your persistence and tenacity!

Welcoming Ramadan 2025: A Sacred Month of Reflection, Renewal, and Responsibility, Shahin Ashraf As women of faith and climate, we welcome the blessed month of Ramadan 2025 with hearts full of gratitude, reflection, and hope. This sacred time invites us to pause, reconnect with the Divine, and deepen our commitment to justice—justice for our communities, for the most vulnerable, and for the Earth we all share. Ramadan is a month of fasting, prayer, and generosity, but it is also a powerful reminder of our interconnectedness. We stand in solidarity with those who face food and water insecurity every day—many of whom are on the frontlines of climate change. This Ramadan, we pray for a world rooted in peace, justice, and care for all living beings. May your fasting not only nourish your souls but also awaken us all to the urgent work ahead—to protect our planet, uphold dignity, and serve one another with compassion. To our Muslim sisters and brothers, Ramadan Mubarak! To all, may this season inspire deeper faith, unity, and a shared commitment to healing our world. #Ramadan2025 #WomenFaithAndClimate #Interfaith #Solidarity #Sustainability #SpiritualRenewal #Justice #Compassion #Climate

Prof. Husna Ahmad, OBE, PhD, Alison Hilliard, Alissa Wahid and Azza Karam, Ph.D at today’s Wilton Park conference on the role of religious leaders in conflict. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eZ-cATWJ Though the event wasn’t specifically focused on the climate crisis, everything is, of course, interconnected. It was wonderful to see good friends from the Women, Faith, and Climate Network coming together—especially in these times of deep division—to find common ground, reaffirm a shared purpose, and renew our determination to work together.

What a great afternoon in Belfast hosted by NICVA (Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action) Linda Gould and Juanita Majury Join the Dots Coalition. We discussed the intersection between women, faith and climate - and the potential to accelerate action via our new network. As far as we know this is the first local in person WFCN event! #climateaction #faithinaction #faithsforclimate

When women stand up - and stand up together - the world is stronger. We know that women are disproportionately affected by climate change, poverty and environmental impacts due to inequalities, yet they play a critical role in crafting sustainable solutions. Yesterday I joined a virtual meeting of the new Interfaith Women Council and heard from faith leaders across the world. Religion and spirituality hold tremendous power and wisdom to help conserve and protect our planet and women’s faith networks are powerful forces for advancing environmental action and solutions at national and local levels, in both religious and secular contexts. A commitment that I heard all Interfaith Women Council members – from 6 continents and 16 different religions, congregations and spiritualities – speak passionately during this inaugural meeting. UNEP has long championed this work, and our Faith for Earth Coalition mobilises faith leadership, faith-based organizations and communities across the world as custodians of far-reaching, value-based perspectives on environmental sustainability. Find out how: https://lnkd.in/d3ipDhGr

?? Opportunity announcement from one of the organisations linked to our network: “Faith For Our Planet is delighted and honored to announce the launch of the nomination call for the ‘Faith In Her: FFOP Women of Faith Climate Leaders Program’, After two years of hard work, it's finally happening! Following the launch of the Faith In Her campaign on the sidelines of UNGA 2023, we began to build this program in pursuit with our recommendations outlined in our Declaration of Inclusivity. We are also thrilled to share that this program will be hosted at the prestigious Harvard Divinity School at Harvard University! The program will: - Critically examine and challenge climate inequalities, historical injustices, and patriarchal, white-centric leadership - Build capacity for BIPOC women to engage in faith-inspired, justice-driven leadership in their organizations and communities - Foster partnerships between women of faith in the Global North and South through mentorships, collaborative projects, and resource-sharing - Provide training in faith-inspired advocacy, communications, leadership and mobilization to organize for climate action - Create BIPOC women of faith led spaces to share knowledge, resources, and build community. This is where you, incredible friends, come in. We would be incredibly grateful if you would provide us with up to *three nominees from your network or community* (but even one would be very welcome!) who would benefit from the program for consideration. Additionally, those from this network who would be interested in partnering on the sessions or delivery of the program, directly message Farwah Gulamali Khataw Have a look at the nomination form here: https://lnkd.in/evJCan4D and info pack attached to this post.”