Why women must lead the fight against climate change, before it’s too late

Women are disproportionately affected by climate change, yet they are at the forefront of grassroots activism and community-driven solutions. Across the globe, women are uniting their communities, showing resilience, and offering hope for a better future. They are also pushing back against harmful policies, though they remain largely absent from positions of political power.

Underrepresentation in climate negotiations

At COP29, only eight out of 78 world leaders were women, highlighting the significant underrepresentation of women in climate negotiations. While participation has increased in recent years, leadership roles are still predominantly filled by men.

Bianca Pitt, co-founder of SHE Changes Climate, stresses the importance of including women in decision-making. She points out that when women suffer, everyone suffers, and their exclusion from decision-making processes means their perspectives are often overlooked. Policies driven mainly by men create blind spots, and without diverse experiences, climate solutions will remain incomplete.

Barriers to female leadership

UN Women/Taleh Valehov

Despite leading solutions at the grassroots level, women continue to be underrepresented in political leadership positions. Pitt highlights the strong gender bias that persists, noting that if young girls do not see women in leadership roles, they may assume that climate discussions are reserved for men. This lack of representation limits the diversity of perspectives and makes it more challenging for women to influence policy.

Read more Flow Brew introduces groundbreaking mushroom-based meditation experience

The path to climate leadership for women

Experts argue that change must happen urgently to ensure women are empowered to lead. Pankhurst, the great-granddaughter of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, calls for increased funding for women-led organisations. She stresses the need to create space for women and girls to contribute to the climate crisis at all levels—locally, nationally, and globally.

For effective climate solutions, it is essential that women are heard, funded, and empowered. Only then can we hope to create a truly sustainable future.