To Fight Climate Change, Empower Women

Climate change is a vital problem that is still left unsolved. Global warming is the cause of climate change, and many organizations such as National Geographic, the Met Office, and other environmental groups believe that global warming is the greatest environmental challenge facing the planet today.

In the last thirty years, climate change disasters have tripled. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), 2022 is expected to become the eighth hottest year on record, with a temperature forecast between 0.97°C and 1.21°C above the average for the pre-industrial period (1850-1900). The United Nations Secretary-General has even declared that 2022 is about shifting into “emergency mode.” 

Women play a crucial role in the fight against climate change. By empowering women and believing in their capabilities, our challenges in climate change may be reduced. Here’s why empowering women can help fight climate change and global warming.

Women are the Most Affected by Climate Change

In developing countries, women are directly impacted by climate change. In some countries, women are not allowed to have their own land, which robs them of the right to use the land as collateral to buy farming equipment. In extreme cases, women cannot borrow money without a man’s signature. These red tapes and restrictions make them produce lower yields. It can lead people to deforestation to have more agricultural land and grow crops.  Research from the United Stations  finds that 43 percent of the agricultural labor force in developing countries comprises of women. United Nations says that “when women are provided with the same access to resources as men, they can increase agricultural yields by 20 to 30 percent”.

Increasing access to education for women about sustainable farming and conservation can positively impact climate adaptation. The soil holds carbon, and it can remove about 25% of the world’s fossil fuel emissions each year. If women are taught about the right management practices such as reducing tillage, planting cover crops, and using organic matter amendments such as compost, then the amount of carbon stored in the soil can be increased. 

Women are More Likely to Use Eco Friendly Products

A lot of eco-friendly products are marketed and used by women. Examples are period-proof underwear and menstrual cups, cosmetic products with more sustainable packaging such as recycled paper, glass, and aluminum, reusable shopping bags, and even household cleaning products with no toxic chemicals.

Rachel Howell, a lecturer on sustainable development at the University of Edinburgh, says that research shows that women have higher levels of socialization to care about others and be socially responsible, which leads them to care about environmental problems and be willing to adopt ecological behaviors. 

Women Can Influence Others

Research shows a clear linkage between women’s leadership and pro-environmental outcomes. By allowing gender diversity in the workplace and government, women can push for more corporate sustainability and environmental justice policies.

A study on gender equality and state-level environmentalism conducted by Kari Norgaard of California-Davis and Richard York of the University of Oregon found that across 130 countries, women in government positions were more likely to sign international treaties to reduce global warming compared to men. It also revealed that women are also consistently more concerned about the climate and take action for solutions. 

A published article by One Earth.org mentions that countries where women have higher social and political status have 12% lower carbon dioxide emissions. After getting elected to public office, women have also led environmental and social legislation. Let’s take New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. After getting re-elected, she and her cabinet members, who are 40% women, have declared a “Climate Emergency” and planned to make the country’s public sector carbon neutral by 2025.

Bottom line, climate change is a severe problem that we have to face and by centering women in the fight against climate change, we can all benefit.