Beijing+30 Youth Blog: Women As Environmental Stewards, Silenced No More

May 8, 2024 | Maryam Eqan
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I’ve always felt a deep connection to environmental issues. Still, it wasn’t until recently, when Pakistan was hit by the deadliest flood of 2022, affecting 33 million people, that I realized how these issues aren’t just about the planet; they’re about its people, too. Especially women. Throughout the world, women bear the disproportionate burden of climate change. Whether collecting water in drought-stricken areas, tilling degraded lands, or bearing the brunt of extreme weather events, women are often at the forefront.

Yet, despite their pivotal roles and deep-rooted knowledge, I’ve noticed a glaring absence: their voices are rarely heard in the spaces where decisions are made. It’s a gap that not only undermines their contributions but also hampers our collective ability to forge effective solutions to environmental crises.

This needs to change. Women are not just victims of environmental degradation; they are powerful agents of change. They possess a deep understanding of their local ecosystems, honed through generations of managing natural resources for their families and communities. Studies indicate that women play a significant role in food production, accounting for 60–80 per cent of the food produced in developing countries. Moreover, 1.8 billion people worldwide live in households without accessible water supplies and in 7 out of 10 of these households, women and girls aged 15 and older are primarily responsible for collecting water. Imagine the positive environmental impacts that could be achieved if their knowledge and leadership were fully harnessed.