Women’s Power: The Secret Weapon Against Climate Change
Hossain Empowering women is crucial for combating climate change. Governments must provide women with better access to education, resources, and capital if they want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to renewable energy successfully.
Research shows that gender equality can drive climate action. Countries with more women in their legislatures are more likely to approve environmental agreements. When women are involved in group decisions about land management, conservation efforts are more successful. Improving the productivity of women smallholder farmers could significantly reduce carbon emissions by 2050.
Currently, women own less than 20% of the world’s agricultural land, despite contributing to half of global food production. They make up 45% of the agricultural workforce in developing countries but receive only 7% of sector investment. Providing women with equal access to resources as men could increase farm yields, reduce hunger, and lift millions out of poverty.
Women and girls are disproportionately affected by climate change, making up 80% of climate-displaced populations and facing a 14 times higher risk of death during climate-related disasters. Climate change also hinders girls’ education, with an estimated 12.5 million girls unable to complete school annually due to climate-related issues. Early marriage and dropping out of school become survival strategies for many girls during climate shocks.
Investing in women and girls offers numerous benefits, including economic growth, resilience-building, and enhanced adaptation efforts. However, it requires increased visibility and participation of women, especially in policymaking roles.
Supporting women in agriculture, keeping girls in school, funding women entrepreneurs, and establishing women-led emergency-information networks aligns with inclusive economic growth goals and contributes to achieving the Paris Climate Agreement’s 1.5°C warming limit.
Re-reported from the article published in Council on Foreign Relations by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
