Shaping a Green Tomorrow: Highlighting Women's Impact on Environmental Sustainability This International Women's Day
Priscilla Sedinam Djentuh
Digital Communication Strategist| Freelance SEO Content Writer| Digital Marketer| Environmental Advocate
Women are particularly vulnerable to environmental problems that are destroying our planet. During droughts in developing countries, women and girls travel far in search of water.?
In an earthquake, for example, women are mainly responsible for caring for affected families and loved ones. Yet, only 12% of women are at the top of influencing environmental policies. Moreover, of the philanthropic funding to tackle climate change, only 0.2% focuses explicitly on women and the environment.
Women place a higher priority on protecting, improving, and caring for the environment for future generations.?
This article focuses on 5 women taking initiatives in advocacy, entrepreneurship, and a sustainable environment across Africa.
What is Environmental Sustainability?
Environmental sustainability is about ecological balance. According to Microsoft, this is all about protecting and preserving the environment for future generations. Environmentally sustainable organisations are taking steps to enhance efficiencies, reduce resource consumption and waste, and measure and monitor carbon emissions across the entire supply chain.?
Plastics make an immense contribution to environmental sustainability through their energy-saving potential and intrinsic recyclability.
Fortunately, we have organisations and individuals engaging in recycling activities to make the world cleaner, greener, and waste-free.?
The Role of Women in Promoting Environmental Sustainability?
The basic problems and management skills at the household level, in addition to women working in various environmental disciplines, give them expertise in championing sustainable initiatives.
Below is a highlight of women-led initiatives across Africa focusing on environmental sustainability worth highlighting on International Women's Day.?
Catharine Natang
Did you know most of the fabrics you wear are produced from plastic??
Often, you’ll see your fashion designer throwing away pieces of materials or fabrics after cutting. Perhaps these pieces of material have no use for the seamstress, tailor, or fashion designer, nor do they know how to make them whole. When these pieces of material end up in the environment or water bodies, the effects are long-term.?
Fortunately, one woman is recycling pieces of fabric for a sustainable environment. She’s the Creative Director of CatharinaNatang Fashion, a Cameroonian-based fashion brand in Buea, Southwest Region. The brand focuses on sustainable fashion, incorporating pieces of fabric waste into clothes and other designs.?
CatharinaNatang Fashion believes in sustainable and ethical practices. Catherine’s brand is committed to reducing the environmental impact by using eco-friendly materials, supporting fair trade, and promoting responsible manufacturing.?
Her brand participates in various fashion shows in Ghana and Cameroon. Besides, she was the winner of the Afri-Plastics Challenge–strand 3 and received funding from Challenge Works to provide training to fashion designers on sustainable fashion. The training also includes resource mobilisation and equips local designers to understand the subtle but massive presence of plastic-based fabrics in the fashion industry.
Njeri Ndonga
If you can’t see the problem, you can’t do anything about it. That’s why the team at Ukwenza VR is doing incredible work to engage school children on the threat of plastic pollution through virtual reality.?
Njeri Ndonga is the Co-Founder and team lead of Ukwenza VR,? a social enterprise based in Nairobi, Kenya, that uses storytelling to showcase the journey of plastic after disposal and educate users on how plastic waste damages the environment. This innovation encourages people to take better care when disposing of plastic waste.
For students who see plastic pollution daily, the long-term engagement with students allowed the Ukwenza VR to dig deep into the gravity of the problem and work through changes they can make at school and home to reduce plastic pollution.
This means students can see issues of plastic waste across the world through virtual reality, learn about the solutions available, and make unique contributions that sustain the environment through recycling, reduction, and segregation of waste.?
Adejoke Lasisi
She’s the founder of Planet 3R, a social enterprise in Oyo State, Nigeria, focused on the 3Rs— #Reduce, #Reuse, #Recycle.?
Adejoke and her dedicated team convert textile and plastic wastes into eco-friendly products using the 3R to save our planet Earth by weaving them into innovative items such as:?
With the vision of creating a sustainable world without textile and plastic waste, it became necessary for the team at Planet 3R to reduce landfill space by recycling clothes and nylon.
It’s interesting to highlight Adejoke's initiatives to empower women and youth in rural communities by training them on sustainable waste collection and recycling.
The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the office of the Vice President, awarded Adejoke and her team at Planet 3R the National MSME Awards of the year 2020. The award was due to the work at Planet 3R, which came with a brand new car, cash prize, and plaque.
She was also a finalist innovator at the Afri-Plastics Awards in Nairobi, an innovative challenge by Challenge Works aimed at social enterprises and NGOs developing and scaling innovative solutions to plastic mismanagement.
Toto Cynthithe
Toto Cynthithe is the originator of Toto Safi, Kigali, Rwanda, a reusable cloth diaper service that allows parents to prioritise their children's safety over cost.?
The product is a viable option for many parents who find disposable diapers neither affordable nor safe for their children or the environment.
The average baby uses about 7,000 disposable diapers before they are potty trained.
The disposal of plastic baby diapers poses two issues. First, many mothers don’t have money to continuously afford diapers, forcing them to cut back on essentials to afford disposable diapers.?
Secondly, most African countries lack the capacity for the disposal of single-use diapers, resulting in devastating health and environmental consequences.
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Cynthithe is championing a solution through Toto Safi, leveraging technology to support the production and adoption of locally-made reusable diapers and diapering services.
These reusable, high-quality baby diapers are environmentally sustainable, including:
Kate Opoku
Mrs. Kate Opoku is an environmental activist with a depth of practical experience in environmental management. She is the Country Leader of Let’s Do It Ghana, the Ghana branch of Let’s Do It World.?
As the convener of the World Cleanup Day in Ghana, Kate has an enviable record of mobilising thousands of volunteers and community members across Ghana to participate in clean-up exercises and brand audits to mark World Clean-up Day since 2018.
Also, under her distinguished leadership, Kate has led Let's Do It Ghana to achieve creditable results of raising awareness of plastic pollution and effective waste management to promote positive behaviour change among Ghanaians.
Kate led the Community for Plastic Reduction and Recycling Project, sponsored by Challenge Works at Nima-Maamobi to raise awareness and implement innovative plastic waste management solutions.?
She was recognised with the Most Impactful Waste Management Advocate Award 2023 by the Ghana Environmental and Sanitation Award.
She remains resolute about promoting a clean and safe environment in communities in Ghana.
Challenges for Women in Environmental Sustainability
Underrepresentation
Women represent more than half of the world's population, yet they’re quite underrepresented in leadership roles across all sectors. The situation is not different from decision-making positions in the environmental industry.
As of 2020, women occupied only 12% of top ministerial positions in environment-related sectors, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Access to Education and Training
Women and girls are limited in terms of accessing quality education and training on environmental issues.?
Environmental change and disasters disproportionately affect women, who collect water, manage waste, and care for their families. As a result, they are unable to access training or pursue careers in environmental sustainability.
Work-Life Balance
In cases where women and girls can access education and training, family responsibilities and other challenges hinder their full participation in environmental initiatives.??
Gender-Based Discrimination
Moreover, discrimination and gender biases create obstacles for women in accessing equal opportunities and recognition for their participation in environmental sustainability.
Opportunities for Women in Environmental Sustainability
Advocacy and Leadership
Opportunities for women to advocate for environmental causes and take on leadership roles are growing, contributing to positive change.
Organisations are promoting the role of women in leadership, including in sustainability initiatives, in recognition of the importance of diverse perspectives.?
Networking and Mentorship
Developing robust networks and mentorship programs can offer women in the environmental sector meaningful support, guidance, and access to new opportunities. The growing presence of women-focused environmental networks and organisations has created platforms for collaboration, exchanging ideas, and mentorship.?
Networking opportunities enable women to connect with individuals of similar interests, share experiences, and gain access to valuable resources for advancing their careers.
Global Initiatives
Many international organisations and initiatives emphasise gender equality and women's empowerment as integral elements of sustainable development. This global recognition creates a supportive environment for women to engage in environmental advocacy and leadership.
Also, funding agencies and philanthropic organisations recognise the importance of supporting projects led by women that focus on environmental sustainability. This financial backing enables women to implement impactful initiatives and contribute to positive change.
Entrepreneurship
Women have the opportunity to explore sustainable entrepreneurship, create campaigns, and contribute to innovative solutions. There are also opportunities for collaboration, capacity building, and partnerships across sectors to enhance women's involvement in addressing environmental challenges.
Policy Advocacy
Women are increasingly leading in advocating for environmentally conscious policies at local, national, and international levels. Their influence can shape legislation, regulations, and initiatives that prioritise sustainability.
In Wrapping Up…
Women play a critical role in environmental sustainability, ensuring their households and communities are safe, clean, green, and waste-free. This International Women’s Day, make time to support women's initiatives and those focused on the environment.
Together, let’s “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”!