With a call for every woman to be a climate leader!
Amina Mohammed
UN Deputy Secretary-General
Women’s leadership is crucial to building a more sustainable world. In celebration of International Women’s Day, I urge all women, and young women in particular, to step to the forefront of movements advocating for more equal, inclusive, just and sustainable societies. To tackle the climate crisis, drive economic and environmental justice, and achieve all of the Sustainable Development Goals—we as women and leaders must grow and strengthen our ranks. Let's amplify all women’s voices. From our communities to global climate talks, together we are stronger and will go further.”
Inger Andersen
Executive Director, UN Environment Programme
On this International Women’s Day, I encourage every woman to be a climate leader – in their families, their communities, their places of work. Climate leadership can come from anyone and take different forms. Regardless of whether a woman possesses traditional knowledge, a science degree, or has a paid job in a professional field, climate leadership – especially these days – comes from the bottom-up. If the powerful chorus of youth voices for the environment have taught us anything, it is that you can create a hurricane if you join forces with like-minded peers.
Michelle Bachelet
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Empower women and girls. Empowering women is the single most important way to ensure effective climate action. Women not only have the right to participate in decision-making processes that affect everybody’s lives, but have their own specific knowledge of biodiversity and indispensable expertise. Women and girls are already at the forefront of the fight for climate justice. Their actions are inspiring and uplifting but we need to do more. Let each one of us take action, however small, to actively participate in this existential struggle. Let’s all become the climate leaders the world needs.
Mafalda Duarte
CEO, Climate Investment Funds
The one action every woman should take is to embrace the leader within themselves. And express that inner voice and calling in the different dimensions of their lives. We are daughters, wives, mothers, employers, employees, entrepreneurs, investors, scientists, thought leaders, artists…and we are all managers. We make important decisions every day and set an example for the generations to come. My calling is to be the greatest example I can be to my daughters and everyone in my life, and lead climate initiatives that can pave the way to a different understanding and respect for our relationships with each other and nature.
Patricia Espinosa
Executive Secretary, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
Climate change impacts all people throughout the world, but women—especially the most vulnerable—are often impacted the worst. Women represent half the global population and deserve an equal say in finding solutions to our climate emergency. That is why I am delighted to see so many young women around the world speaking up and taking on leadership roles. This is exactly what is needed and so my message to young women is: don’t get discouraged and don’t underestimate the power of what you say. You have it in you to be a climate leader.
Damilola Ogunbiyi
Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All
Women across the world are driving a renewable energy transition that supports climate action and leaves no one behind. From young entrepreneurs to female CEOs – we must harness and champion this leadership to achieve a prosperous, climate-resilient future for all.
Dia Mirza
Award-winning actress and UN SDG Advocate
One action that every woman can take to be a climate leader is managing their own and their family's patterns of consumption and waste. Bringing climate action home by ensuring consumption is less wasteful, be it water, electricity, food, etc. Making conscious choices in all items of consumption. Segregation and management of waste we generate is another great way to lead a more sustainable lifestyle. Every aspect of our daily lives can demonstrate our action for the planet! As women, we can set an example at home for the sake of our own health, the health of our families and the planet.
Jayathma Wickramanayake
UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth
As young climate leaders, we must ensure that our voices — and the voices of other young women and marginalized groups — are central to shaping COVID-19 recovery plans aligned with a just transition to a net-zero future. In this critical year for climate action, the international community must do better to recognize and support women, and especially young women, by ensuring they have access to decision-making spaces.
