Article by Ashley Espinal Nunez

Photo by Nikolas Gannon on Unsplash

Over the years, women’s rights have improved significantly, yet they have not reached their full potential. There are multiple systemic barriers that limit women’s contributions, and progress is not guaranteed in a world continuously affected by escalating conflicts and catastrophic climate change. In these demanding times, women deserve a platform to voice their ideas while being acknowledged as valuable members of society. In particular, women’s representation in climate change initiatives is essential for the survival of our common home, planet Earth.

For many years, Mother Nature has expeditiously warned us with catastrophes such as the melting of the polar ice caps and glaciers, rise in the earth’s average temperature, sea levels rising which has increased the number of hurricanes, and many more concerning signs. These signs highlight the desperate need for effective solutions. Who can create progress? Women! Without any hesitation, many women demonstrate their activism daily to improve the health of the environment. Even with less access to resources ranging from land rights to education, women are more likely to recycle, minimize waste, buy organic food and eco-labeled products, and save water and energy in the household.

Nevertheless, even when income is restrained, women tend to prioritize sustainable practices due to their long-term focus on the well-being of their loved ones. However, no matter how hard they work, their sacrifices are not acknowledged, and they are largely excluded from shaping policies, strategies, and programmes to address disaster risk and resilience.

Unfortunately, the marginalization of women’s voices in climate discussions is not only an issue of equity; it is a significant loss of potential solutions to pressing environmental challenges.

Women’s representation in climate leadership is both a matter of equity and a strategic advantage. When women are involved in decision-making processes, they bring their unique lived experiences and perspectives on sustainable practices. This allows them to contribute invaluable insights to climate policy that demonstrates priority to ecological balance. For example, Rachel Carson, an American biologist, heavily influenced environmental policy through her book Silent Spring, where she identified the negative effects pesticides have on fauna and helped raise awareness. This promoted the establishment of Earth Day, which recognizes the harm caused to the environment while showing global support for protecting the Earth.

Rachel Carson’s legacy has encouraged women to lead critical climate initiatives. For instance, Christiana Figueres, who played a key role in the Paris Agreement, is another powerful example of the impact that women can have in global climate policy. Through her leadership, countries applied ambitious carbon reduction targets and fostering international cooperation. Both of their stories display how when women lead, they prioritize long-term actions. However, despite these contributions, many women are still facing barriers to leadership roles in environmental policy.

Unquestionably, greater commitment to gender equality in climate leadership could strengthen our response to global environmental challenges. In Gender Matters in Environmental Justice, MacGregor reveals that examining issues through a gender lens reveals the underlying norms and power dynamics that shape dominant ideas of masculinity and femininity in society. This framework enables a deeper understanding of how these “hegemonic” gender roles influence various aspects of social life; including our perceptions, organization, and interactions with the environment (MacGregor, 2020). Additionally, MacGregor introduces Ecofeminism as a reframed approach to environmental justice. It challenges liberal feminism’s tendency to overlook ecological limits and criticizes environmentalism for ignoring how patriarchal systems contribute to environmental issues (MacGregor, 2020, p. 243). Challenging existing paradigms while advocating for a more inclusive approach to sustainability is an important integration for an equitable society that effectively addresses the complexities of climate change.

The goal is not to replace men from positions of power but to integrate women into spaces where they fairly belong but have been denied access. An established effort to integrate gender equity into climate leadership will not only empower women globally but will also strengthen collective responses to the pressures of climate change. By acknowledging and amplifying women’s voices in climate policy, we can create more effective, equitable, and sustainable solutions that are key for the survival of our planet. It is time to invest in women as a strong force for change, leading the way to a more sustainable future.

As food for thought, Ana Maria Hernandez, a land defender and director of the grantee partner Consortio Oaxaca, a coalition of feminist activists in Mexico states, “We are the guardians of the territories, of the rivers, of the continuity of life”. Now, I ask you again: who can create progress?

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