Mumbai: At the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995, representatives from over 189 nations reached an agreement on a gender equality strategy. The Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action established 12 topics related to gender parity, one of which was “Women and the Environment,” and now, including women’s voices in climate discourse is more important than ever. Recognizing that climate change disproportionately affects women and girls, many notable women leaders are fighting today not only to protect the environment, but also to demonstrate that climate action can be inclusive and gender-sensitive.
An overview: 1. Amanda Sanghvi – Management Team, Grow-Trees.com
After working in tax consulting, this licensed chartered accountant and lawyer joined social organization Grow-Trees.com in 2021. They provided a distinct community-focused viewpoint to reforestation and ecological restoration. Her art recognizes the link between land and the communities that live on it, as well as the people that rely on it for survival. Such community-based reforestation programs are especially empowering for marginalized rural women, who not only learn the fundamentals of land management but also benefit from wage employment. She also assists various management duties at Grow-Trees.com, in addition to business growth. Passionate about tackling environmental challenges, focusing on developing solutions targeted at boosting India’s green cover, safeguarding forests, extending wildlife habitats, and establishing carbon sinks in hot concrete jungles with help from local communities.
2. Renjini Thampi- Founder and CEO of Vapasee
Renjini Thampi, who is now a member of the 2024 cohort of Women Climate Collective (WCC), a platform that promotes an equitable, gender-inclusive climate transition by enabling women leaders to drive climate action, has always been interested in solving pollution produced by mismanaged trash. As the creator and CEO of Vapasee, she has used unique upcycling tactics to repurpose unwanted glass into decorative and artistic things. According to reports, her firm has upcycled over 28,000 glass bottles, 7,000 coconut shells, 1,000 kilograms of wood, and 780 kg of metal scrap. The company also has a significant socioeconomic impact because it hires underprivileged women from marginalized communities as well as local craftsmen. Her community-driven work demonstrates how intersectional climate action can help both the environment and society.
3. Leena Joshi – Executive Director of Climate Conservancy
Leena Joshi, a social entrepreneur, climate campaigner, public speaker, and author, founded and serves as executive director of Climate Conservancy, an international non-profit organization with over 9000 volunteers in 60+ countries. Climate Conservancy’s fundamental mission is to protect and conserve vulnerable ecosystems while also promoting adaptive climate action and sustainable practices. Leena works for inclusive land stewardship and community action to protect biodiversity. She promotes climate resilience across demographics and has served on the boards and advisory councils of several organizations, including The Climate Reality Project. She is also the CEO and Chair of the Board of EcoVita, a firm that makes biodegradable dinnerware and silverware.
4. Hemavathi S Shekhar – Founder of Enact Earth Foundation
Hemavathi, a lawyer, researcher, and academic, feels that climate change is not only an environmental concern, but also a human one including relocation, gender, labor, and mental health. As an advocate for equality and justice, Hemavathi works at the confluence of climate change and legislation to provide marginalized populations with more representation. Enact Earth Foundation, founded in 2021, promotes climate knowledge and intergenerational equality. Her work promotes gender and participatory justice while also including previously ignored views. She is now a member of the Women Climate Collective (WCC) 2024 cohort, as well as a Council Member of the Loss and Damage Youth Grant-Making Council, which provides support to youth-led initiatives in the global south.
