It is estimated that 158 million women and girls are pushed into poverty as a direct result of climate change, 16 million more than the total number of men and boys.
Climate extremes exacerbate existing inequalities and power dynamics that reinforce restrictive gender norms and stereotypes. This means women and girls are even less likely to access necessary resources and services and are more vulnerable to multiple forms of gender-based violence. As many as 80 per cent of those displaced by climate change and natural disasters are women and girls. They are also 14 times more likely to die in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
It’s alarming. Global climate related disasters has almost doubled over the past 20 years. Women’s leadership as agents of change to address the climate crisis is the only way for us to save the planet before it’s too late
A paradigm change is needed to redress the current situation. Our global response to the climate crisis will not be effective unless women are in the driving seat, ensuring that mitigation and adaptation measures are inclusive and leave no one behind.
Yet when it comes to women’s leadership, the evidence paints a dismal picture. Women are largely under-represented in decision-making positions at all levels, including in the field of climate change. Only 15 out of 133 world leaders participating in the COP 28 were women, similarly to previous years.
While women are excluded from leading the global climate agenda, they are the ones who suffer the most from the climate crisis
In response to unprecedented environmental threats, UNESCO's International Day of Women in Multilateralism became a platform for leaders, scientists, and activists to spotlight the vital link between climate change and gender disparities. The third celebration, endorsed at the UNESCO 41st General Conference, unfolded at UNESCO's Paris Headquarters on January 25, 2024. This distinguished gathering of global leaders, scientists, and activists created a space for reflection, advocacy, and engagement, addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change and gender inequalities.
Today we are launching our commitment to empower women in ocean sciences throughout the UN Ocean Decade.
Women in science, the only way
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Urgent and resolute action is needed to demonstrate that gender equality is not just a moral imperative but a strategic necessity.
Women and girls are part of the solution to the climate crisis because they have the potential to offer unique knowledge and experiences that can help solve climate and ecosystem crises. It is more than just a matter of numbers, as women make up roughly half of the world’s human population and therefore represent a huge part of crucial human resources, ideas and innovations that can lead to solutions. Beyond that, women are the keepers of indispensable ancestral and experimental knowledge. Indigenous women especially have an important understanding of sustainable land and natural resource management practices. Yet, specific challenges persist.
A mentality shift needs to be pushed at national and local levels for women to lead the implementation of international climate change commitments. This can prove particularly challenging in contexts where indigenous women and women belonging to minority groups face multiple forms of discrimination.
Instead of “leaving no one behind”, we need to change the discourse to “moving people in front”. My slogan is just “access".
More awareness and stronger political support are needed to put gender equality at the core of action to solve the climate crisis. A recent review of national climate action plans found that only 55 countries have specific climate adaptation measures referring to gender equality and only 23 countries recognize women as agents of change in accelerating progress on climate commitments. Worryingly, it is estimated that only 2.4 per cent of all climate-related overseas development assistance (ODA) is dedicated to gender equality as the principal objective despite the climate commitments made by governments and international donors in multilateral fora, including at the UN Climate Change Conference.
Women negotiators need to be empowered to negotiate climate agreements, but they also need to be involved in implementing laws and curating policies
Shaping a feminist response to the climate crisis is indeed also a matter of money.
Only 1% of climate financing is given to women led organizations worldwide. We need to start from there for gender justice in climate crisis.
In sailing, women are paid 10% of the male salary. A balance must be found
Specialized education and targeted skills development can also help offset the striking lack of support to women and girls in the natural sciences, specifically in water and ocean science. Gender equality in the sciences is crucial to bring diverse perspectives and innovative solutions to drive research in areas such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, water, oceans and climate adaptation and for building resilient communities. Science gives us the evidence we need.
Allies Needed to Lead Climate Action
Engaging with science does not require being a scientist. Young leaders from different fields have made mentoring and networking among “women of the ocean” a driving force in their pursuit for climate awareness.
We need to deconstruct stereotypes by inspiring young girls to pursue careers in the maritime industry
Building networks among women decision makers, scientists and activists can also advance women as leaders.
Solidarity is needed at the highest political levels, within and across governments, but also needed on the ground, working with men and boys to deconstruct stereotypes and create conducive environments for women-led initiatives.
Gender equality works when men participate
UNESCO’s contribution
UNESCO offers a wealth of solutions to support women in science: from the scientific study of glaciers to satellite weather forecasting, from gender-sensitive water indicators to ocean management. UNESCO emphasizes the urgency for collaborative efforts in achieving gender equality and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
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Climate Advisor to the United Nations Secretary General (YAG)
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Chile to UNESCO
Director of the Latin American Marine Educators Network
Marine ecologist at the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute in Iceland
President of Benin’s Youth Parliament for Water
Film Director and founder of Help Images
