Celebrating International Women's Day - The Crucial Role of Women in Building a Sustainable Planet

'Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow'  UNWOMEN.ORG

Recognizing the vital role of women is key to crafting a sustainable future. Gender equality and empowering women lie at the heart of our collective endeavors to tackle climate change, foster sustainability, and create a world where everyone enjoys equal rights and opportunities. Embracing the significant contribution of women in sustainability is crucial, given their distinct viewpoints, life experiences, and skills in confronting the climate challenge.

A few data points on gender equality 

​$360B
An additional $360 billion is needed per year to achieve gender equality.

20%
Closing gender gaps in employment could boost GDP per capita by 20 per cent.

300M  
Closing gaps in care and expanding services with decent jobs could spark almost 300 million jobs by 2035.

New analysis from the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO) shows 34% women's participation on party delegation at COP28, the same percentage as 10 years ago. Only 2% of delegations achieved gender parity, with men and women represented equally, whereas 79% of the delegations were male-dominated, featuring more men than women. Data is available on accessible on the Gender Climate Tracker app and website.

​The involvement of women in sustainability initiatives is vital in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals outline a blueprint for peace and prosperity, with gender equality and climate action as foundational elements. Women's inclusion in sustainability accelerates progress towards these goals and ensures that solutions are comprehensive, equitable, and effective. Below are are three possible strategies for including women into sustainability efforts:

1. Promoting Gender Equality in Climate Actions

The Lima Gender Action Plan from COP25 emphasizes the crucial role of gender equality in tackling climate change. Women bring valuable perspectives and insights to climate strategies, making them indispensable in both planning and implementation. By championing gender equality, we ensure that climate initiatives are comprehensive and account for the diverse impacts on individuals. This inclusiveness is vital for crafting resilient and enduring strategies that can effectively address the complexities of a changing climate

2. Fostering Women and Men Partnerships and Woman/Woman Collaboration

Promoting gender equality and fighting climate change go hand in hand, and fostering partnerships between women and men, as well as encouraging collaboration among women, is paramount. These partnerships harness the unique strengths, perspectives, and experiences of both genders to tackle environmental challenges more effectively. By working together, they can develop innovative solutions that are inclusive and fair, driving global sustainability efforts forward. These collaborations break down gender stereotypes, foster mutual respect, and ensure that climate action is a joint effort. Gender collaboration create a more resilient and sustainable future for everyone, guided by the values of equality.

​3. Championing Women to Leadership Roles in Sustainability

Women leaders bring essential skills, perspectives, and insights to the table, driving sustainable change across communities and industries.  Their leadership ensures that sustainability efforts are not only focused on environmental outcomes but also on creating equitable opportunities and rights for everyone.  It therefore becomes essential to empower women to take on leadership roles in sustainability to accelerate progress towards a sustainable and equitable world. .Such empowerment promotes more inclusive decision-making processes, ensuring that policies and initiatives reflect and benefit all segments of society.

4. Investing in Women

Investing in women is  key for achieving a sustainable planet and gender equality. Empowering women with education, resources, and equal opportunities not only accelerates progress towards environmental conservation but also promotes fairness across genders. Women, often being at the forefront of community-based conservation and sustainable practices, bring invaluable insights and solutions to the table. Financial and educational investments in women lead to broader societal benefits, including reduced poverty levels and greater overall economic prosperity. In its 2024 Campaign, the United Nations 2024 calls to Invest in women to achieve gender equality by 20230 and accelerate the transition to a sustainable future.

The role of women in sustainability is multifaceted and indispensable. From promoting gender equality in climate action plans to fostering partnerships and leading change, women are the enablers to building a sustainable planet with equal rights. Women must be included at every level of decision-making and action. By doing so, we harness the full potential of humanity in our collective effort to protect and preserve our planet for future generations.

For EnableGreen, women empowerment is at the forefront of driving sustainable change. The firm strongly advocates for empowering women in advancing their careers within the sustainability sector.

Happy International Women’s day to all. ​

  This article was written by Hayatte Loukili 

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