On 8th March 2025 it's International Women's Day, and the theme is #AccelerateAction. The World Economic Forum estimates that we will only achieve full gender equality by 2158 - that's five generations from now. Swift and intentional steps to address systemic barriers and biases that women face are vital, including recognizing the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and their crucial role in combating it globally.
Women largely make up the majority of the world's poor, who are highly dependent on local natural resources for their livelihood, and this means that climate change impacts them more. In rural areas, women and girls are often responsible for securing food, water, firewood, and other necessities for survival. Extreme weather means these women travel further and with more difficulty to find these resources , increasing their exposure to gender based violence, as climate change exacerbates existing conflicts. But this also means that women are uniquely positioned to drive the fight against climate change, and they are doing this all over the world:
Marina Silva is the Minister for Environment and Climate Change in Brazil. An global icon of environmentalism, her life has been dedicated to fighting deforestation and climate change worldwide. A key leader in the 1980s of a grassroots resistance group fighting deforestation of Brazilian tropical rainforests and indigenous lands, whose efforts resulted in the protection of two million hectares of forests and many indigenous communities, she then went on to be elected as councillor of Rio Branco, then to the Federal Senate, and in January 2003, was elected Environment Minister for the first time. The bills and regulations published under her leadership resulted in an 84% decrease in deforestation in the Amazon between 2004-2012. Currently the Minister of Environment and Climate Change for the second time, her reappointment has seen deforestation rates drop by 60% compared to July 2022.
Wanjira Mathai is a Kenyan environmentalist and activist. With over over two decades of strategic leadership, she has inspired environmental and social change across Africa, particularly among the youth. She holds many influential roles: currently she's Managing Director for Africa and Global Partnerships at the World Resources Institute and Africa adviser to the Bezos Earth Fund, helping to shape NGO and philanthropic work on the continent, directing attention, research, and funding to helping the most climate-vulnerable places and local communities. She is also a senior advisor for the Partnerships for Women Entrepreneurs in Renewables (wPOWER) which promotes women in renewable energy leadership & works to bring renewables to almost four million women in East Africa.
We're highlighting these women today as examples of the incredible work women are doing globally to fight climate change. We hope they inspire you as much as they have us!
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