Mary Ellen Iskenderian: Why gender equality is the most urgent climate action of all

Oct 2, 2023 | Mary Ellen Iskenderian
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As Ajay Banga settles into his new role as World Bank president, all eyes are on his efforts to adapt the bank’s mission to address the climate crisis. It is encouraging that he has already declared a strategic focus on both gender and climate as levers for development, equity and sustainability.

In fact, on his first day in office, Mr Banga expressed the need for annual investments of trillions of dollars to arrest the forces of climate change and fragility, while simultaneously building up human capital and fighting inequality in health, education and financial access.

Though this focus is heartening, I would argue that ‘financial access’ is not a hoped-for outcome, but rather a prerequisite. If the World Bank is concerned about mitigating the effects of climate change on poorer and more marginalised communities, the best way to do that is by focusing on women’s and girls’ prosperity and resilience.