Women at the Forefront: The Gender Dimension of Climate Action

With International Women's Day approaching, I wanted to spread awareness on a topic that is very close to my heart: the powerful connection between women and climate action and how women are affected by the climate crisis.

A few weeks ago, I attended the Climate Fresk workshop, which left a strong impression on me. I couldn't help but notice that our group had about 7 women and only 3 men. When one of the men asked if this gender imbalance was typical, this question stuck with me and made me do my own research on it.

Back home, I dived deeper into the topic. Turns out that it is not just an observation, it is true: Data confirmed that women demonstrate heightened concern about climate change and take more decisive action in response. But why is that? 

Several studies from the Centre for Applied Cross-cultural Research at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand show that women consistently have stronger attitudes towards protecting the environment and are more likely to engage in sustainable behaviours than men. These differences are partly due to personality traits. Women tend to be more conscientious, organised, and goal-oriented, which drives their commitment to environmental protection.

The paradox, though, is striking: Despite women's greater climate engagement, women remain underrepresented in the professional field of sustainability. A survey of 496 sustainability experts in 75 countries found that only 39 percent identify as female, as stated on the Carbon Literacy Projects website. 

Studies show that we women are more likely to make substantive lifestyle changes like diligently recycling, buying local foods, reducing water usage, and consuming less meat. Research indicates that we tend to prioritize climate solutions that benefit future generations.

What troubles me: UN research documents how climate change hits women harder, especially in poorer communities. When climate disasters strike, women are often more vulnerable due to long-standing gender disparities in mobility, decision-making, and access to resources. In many parts of the world, women bear the heavy responsibility of securing food and water for their families, with Agriculture being the most important employment sector for women in low-income countries. During droughts or erratic rainfall, they work even harder to keep their households afloat. Sometimes forcing young girls to leave school to help. This cycle of vulnerability only deepens as climate impacts intensify, disproportionately threatening women’s livelihoods and well-being. 

The most frustrating part? Even though women care more and are affected more, we're still left out of important climate decisions. This is not just unfair, it’s counterproductive. Studies show that when women lead climate initiatives, the solutions last longer and work better.

Empowering women and fostering gender equity is essential to create a sustainable future for all of us. I believe we need both women and men working together on driving change and gender equality. Women shouldn't have to fight this battle alone, and men need to stand with us as true allies. 

This International Women's Day, I'm making a personal commitment to keep pushing for change and a just future by joining the Women’s March in Amsterdam today, the 8th of March from The Feminist Club Amsterdam. Let's create change together. Are you with me? 

Verena Weiss is a Product Designer, Feminist, and Circular Design & Sustainability Enthusiast. She advocates for circular design principles and sustainability practices that benefit both users and our planet. Her work sits at the intersection of human-centered design and environmental responsibility, where she strives to create products that drive positive change.