It is important to shed light on gender balance due to the fact that female equality and values contribute to a more modern, social and open economy. With more women in leadership roles/positions, we can improve not only society, but business as well.

Women show remarkable resilience – they’re leading climate movements, helping, supporting, building and creating extraordinary projects to help society and our communities and they deserve every bit of recognition. We must not forget the women's suffrage - the right for women to vote in elections, the #MeToo movement and many more extraordinary actions both genders have taken in order for women to be heard. History has taught us that change can happen through collective activism.

But despite this great change that is happening in some parts of the world, many people are not aware that climate change affects women more than men and so in honour of international women's day, we think it is important to learn more about women and climate change.

How climate change affects women

Global warming affects us all, but its affects will have a greater impact on women because they’re more likely to experience poverty, and have less access to basic human rights in comparison to men.

In rural areas, women and girls are the primary source to gather food, water and household energy resources. As droughts worsen, forest fires become more apparent, women and girls must travel further away and in most cases spend more money to access these resources. Climate change exaggerates their existing workload and makes it harder for them to take on additional work for further income.

Women represent around 43% of the global agricultural workforce, but women in agriculture face countless barriers to economic independence making it harder for them to harvest land. As soil quality worsens and water shortage becomes more of an occurring problem, they will be unable to sell their produce and be financial secure.

How we can support each other

Thankfully, the Paris climate agreement includes specific provisions to ensure women receive support to cope with the hazards of climate change. Not only will this policy help, but we can help, through collective activism. In the workplace, in the classroom, within in our friendship groups, communities and within our general society.

Making a stand for female equality means making it a priority for the sake of all of our futures. It isn’t just about making headline news, legal victories and international agreements: its about the way we talk, think, and act every day which can create a ripple effect that benefits everyone!

Creating more space for diverse voices will ultimately provide a range of solutions to help us all tackle global issues together and when we are advocating women’s roles as decision-makers, educators and climate leaders, we can ensure greater environmental progress.

Its our issue, not just a female issue.