From inheriting the climate crisis to driving solutions, women and girls are at the center of climate change

Imagine a world where young girls in East Africa don’t have to drop out of school to fetch water. Instead, they use their education to develop innovative climate solutions. Imagine women leading reforestation projects, rebuilding resilient communities after disasters, and holding corporations accountable for sustainable practices. This is the world we must strive for, a world where gender equality and climate action are inextricably linked, and where women are empowered to lead the fight against the greatest crisis of our time.But sadly, this isn’t the reality of our world. Women and girls’ realities are shaped by a climate crisis they had no role in creating. Climate change isn’t just destroying environments; it is exacerbating inequalities, turning existing vulnerabilities into insurmountable barriers. Women and girls, particularly in the Global South, are disproportionately affected, shouldering the heaviest burdens of a crisis they are least responsible for. And yet, they are leading solutions, driving sustainable practices, championing grassroots initiatives, and advocating for transformative climate action. Something I see often through the partners of Equality Now and the work of Project Dandelion of which I am a proud champion.

At COP29 this year, the urgency of gender in climate discussions was acknowledged, but only on the second-to-last day, with Gender Day. This delay in prioritizing gender illustrates a global failure to recognize its integral role in climate action. Token gestures are not enough. Gender equality must be a central thread running through every climate negotiation, decision, and commitment.

The Global Reality

Climate change is not just an environmental crisis, it’s a threat multiplier. It interacts with entrenched inequalities to create ripple effects that disproportionately affect women and girls. They face increased risks of poverty, displacement, violence, and barriers to education and healthcare. Statistics paint a stark picture of how these realities are shaping lives across the globe.

• 80% of people displaced by climate change are women.
• Women and children are 14 times more likely to die during natural disasters.
• In Kenya, droughts force families to marry off daughters for survival. In Malawi’s flood-hit regions, women in displacement camps face sexual violence and exploitation.

Challenges We Face

The challenges women face in the context of climate change are deeply rooted in structural inequalities and systemic barriers. These hurdles amplify the vulnerabilities of women and girls, especially in marginalized and indigenous communities. Addressing the climate crisis without tackling these challenges head-on is impossible.

• Marginalized Voices: Women, particularly from indigenous and rural communities, are excluded from climate decision-making processes despite being primary users and guardians of natural resources.
• Structural Barriers: Discriminatory laws and unequal access to resources trap women in poverty and prevent them from recovering from climate disasters.
• Corporate Exploitation: Unsustainable practices by corporations profit from environmental degradation, worsening the crisis while offering no accountability.
• Token Inclusion: At global platforms like COP29, women are often included as a symbolic gesture without being given real influence over decision-making processes.

Women as Agents of Change

Despite the systemic challenges, women and girls have proven to be powerful agents of change in addressing the climate crisis. Their leadership is often the backbone of grassroots initiatives that create sustainable and inclusive solutions. However, their contributions remain undervalued and underrepresented in global and national climate discussions.

• In Ecuador, indigenous women are leading sustainable agriculture initiatives to restore barren lands, benefiting entire communities.
• In Kenya, grassroots women-led organizations are tackling child marriage and female genital mutilation exacerbated by droughts, protecting girls through education and advocacy.
• Studies show that countries with higher female representation in parliament adopt stronger climate policies, proving that women’s leadership is critical to effective climate action.

The Way Forward

To truly address the gendered impacts of climate change, it is crucial to adopt an intersectional and inclusive approach that centers the voices and experiences of women and girls. Solutions must go beyond symbolic representation and address the systemic barriers that limit women's participation in climate action.

• Prioritize Gender in Climate Policy: Women’s leadership, knowledge, and lived experiences must guide every climate decision.
• Reform Discriminatory Laws: Guarantee women property rights, access to resources, and protection from violence, enabling them to recover and thrive.
• Channel Climate Finance to Women: Fund women-led initiatives and adaptation programs, especially in the Global South, ensuring equitable access to resources.
• Engage Grassroots Leadership: Empower local women to craft and implement sustainable, culturally relevant solutions that address their unique challenges.

Climate change is not gender-neutral. Women and girls are not just victims of this crisis, they are the solution. If we truly want to address the climate crisis, gender equality must be at the heart of every decision.

#Climate #ClimateChange #WomensRights #GenderEquality #WomenLeaders #WomensLeadership #COP29 #Women