Women's Power Fuels Lasting Climate Solutions

Climate actions prove most effective and sustainable when women are empowered with access to land, credit, and decision-making authority. Field evidence from diverse locations demonstrates that women's involvement in initiatives like growing climate-resilient crops and managing natural resources significantly boosts community resilience.

Projects that intentionally build women's leadership, such as those in Venezuela and Senegal, show greater local buy-in and fewer delivery challenges. These efforts improve diets, create income, and protect vital ecosystems, securing environmental outcomes for longer periods.

However, structural barriers like insecure land rights and limited access to resources hinder women's full participation. Past programs that failed to address power dynamics saw gains reversed. Future investments must ensure women retain control as opportunities grow, maximizing returns from climate finance.

Formal land tenure rights are critical for women to benefit from carbon markets and sustainability premiums. By backing women's leadership and engaging men as allies, climate action can be strengthened at the local level, leading to more effective land restoration and livelihood security.