Women And Sustainability: The Unfinished Fight For A Greener Future
March 6, 2025
The climate crisis is not gender-neutral. Women—particularly those in marginalized and rural communities—are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation, yet they remain sidelined in decision-making spaces that shape our planet’s future. This paradox is more than an injustice; it’s a massive untapped opportunity.
As we mark International Women’s Day 2025 under the theme Accelerate Action, this three-part series will dissect the undeniable link between gender equity, climate resilience and why empowering women is essential to achieving a sustainable future —because sustainability without gender equity is simply unsustainable.
Impact of Climate Change on Women
Women have long been at the forefront of sustainability efforts, yet gender disparities continue to hinder their full participation in shaping a greener world and the numbers remain staggering. According to United Nations Climate Action, women constitute 80% of those displaced by climate change, yet they remain underrepresented in environmental leadership and policy-making roles.
Climate change disproportionately affects women, particularly in rural and marginalized communities. The UN’s 2023 Global Gender Gap Report highlights that women in agriculture produce up to 80% of food in developing countries, moreover, the UN Women Facts and Figures report indicated that women own less than 20% of the land, leaving them vulnerable to climate-induced droughts and soil degradation. Furthermore, the Global Gender Gap 2024 report by the World Economic Forum states that at the current rate, gender parity will not be reached until 2158, underscoring the urgency of accelerating action. In other words, at the current rate of progress, it will take 133 years to reach full parity in 2158 – which is roughly five generations from now.
Women as Climate Leaders: The Untapped Potential
Now here is the game-changer: The Women’s Environment & Development Organization has demonstrated that increasing women’s leadership in sustainability yields tangible environmental benefits. For example, when women lead on climate issues, impact follows. Studies such as the Gender Equality in the Sustainable Energy Transition report shows that environmental policies are more effective when women are involved, and female-led sustainability initiatives—from reforestation to clean energy transitions of businesses, to health effects of climate change —consistently yield stronger, more lasting results. So why are women still fighting for a seat at the table? More importantly, what must be done to fast-track progress?
Women Breaking Barriers: A Framework for Action
Empowering women is not just a moral imperative—it is a climate solution. The data is clear: when women lead, sustainability efforts are more effective, yet systemic barriers continue to limit their influence in shaping environmental policies, accessing climate finance, and entering STEM fields. Closing these gaps is not only about justice; it is about accelerating the global response to climate change. To truly build a greener, more resilient future, we must take targeted action in three critical areas: policy reform, financial inclusion, and education. Here’s how we can turn commitments into tangible progress.
- Policy Reform: Governments must adopt gender-responsive environmental policies that prioritize women’s leadership in sustainability efforts.
- Financial Inclusion: Increase funding for women-led sustainability initiatives through climate finance mechanisms.
- Education & Training: Expand access to STEM education and climate leadership programs to equip women with the skills to drive sustainability.
Gender equity is not a side issue in climate discussions—it is the foundation of a sustainable future. Women are already leading the way in environmental advocacy, policy, and innovation, yet systemic barriers continue to hold them back. The path forward is clear: we must prioritize policy reform, financial inclusion, and education to empower women as climate leaders. To Accelerate Action, we must collectively implement these strategies. Stay tuned for the next article in this series, Gender and Climate Change: The Economic Case for Women’s Leadership.
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