Why women’s leadership is key to climate action

Feb 1, 2022

Young woman holding up protest sign saying 'we are the change'.

Women continue to face barriers to equal participation in environmental decision-making, despite research showing how vital this is to achieve climate targets. Image: UNSPLASH/Lewis Parsons

Nina Jeffs

Schwarzman Academy Fellow , Chatham House

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A woman on a bike, carrying a green container and a baby on her back.

'A woman rides to collect water for her family in the village of Sorobouly, Burkina Faso. In developing countries, the livelihoods of women, who often work in the informal sector, are more vulnerable to economic and environmental shocks'. Image: Ollivier Girard/CIFOR, CC BY-NC-ND-2.0

A woman holds a bowl filled with vegetables on her head.

'A woman carries vegetables in Yangole, Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite women’s contribution to achieving climate targets, their access to climate finance remains limited'. Image: Axel Fassio/CIFOR CC BY NC-ND-2.0

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Female farmers carrying freshly cut long stems of grass.

'Women in Rambutan, Indonesia, carry freshly harvested purun, a grass used for making plaited souvenirs for tourists. Despite women’s contribution to their household income, climate finance solutions do not always consider gender equality in their design'. Image: Rifky/CIFOR CC BY-NC-ND-2.0

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