Explainer: Why women need to be at the heart of climate action
Norah Magero poses for a photo with the Vaccibox, an innovative solar-powered fridge made by her organization Drop Access using locally available materials. Photo: RAEng/GGImages/Alissa Everett.
Putting gender equality at the centre of climate change solutions means integrating diverse gender perspectives across holistic and enduring climate, environmental, and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes [sic].
The gist:
It’s known that women in the workplace and their leadership is associated with increased financial performance. What is also known, but hasn’t yet been brought into the mainstream conversation in the same way is that women’s leadership has a similar effect on local (and global) sustainability.
The Stats:
A 2019 study found that increasing women’s representation in national parliaments leads to the adoption of more stringent climate change policies, resulting in lower emissions.
At the local level, the participation of women in natural resource management is associated with better resource governance and conservation outcomes.
If all women smallholders received equal access to productive resources, their farm yields would rise by 20 to 30 per cent, and 100 to 150 million people would no longer go hungry.
Higher percentages of women on corporate boards positively correlates with the disclosure of carbon emissions information.
Women’s and girl’s full and equal participation in decision-making processes is a top priority in the fight against climate change. Without gender equality today, a sustainable, more equal future remains beyond our reach.
Rima Chaaban Massoud tends to crops on her family’s 80-year-old farm in Lebanon. Photo: UN Women/Joe Saad.
What can you do to support climate action for women, by women?
From the UN article: The scope and scale of climate change impacts can be daunting, but your words and actions can affect real change in your community.
Consider supporting the work of local women-led organizations, enterprises, and cooperatives taking action against climate change.
Use your voice and vote to hold leaders accountable and to press for commitments that build an equitable and enduring future.
Give power and platforms to the next generation of Earth champions by reading and sharing the stories and work of women and girls on the front lines of climate change.
Use #IWD2022 to join the conversation on social media, and share how you support gender-equal climate action.
Connect with the UN Women post here .