Year-End Reflections and Call to Action from SHE Changes Climate
As we approach the close of another year, we reflect on the strides made in championing climate justice through a gendered lens. 2024 has been a year of immense challenges and opportunities. From the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) to London Climate Action Week, the UNFCCC Bonn meetings, the New York Climate Action Group, and the Biodiversity COP, the energy and unifying voice of women leaders have been truly inspiring. The power of women-led leadership in tackling the climate crisis has never been more evident.
This year, we took a moment to reflect on our learnings from the past three years and embarked on an intensive consultation process. Engaging with women leaders from over 30 countries, our aim was to deeply understand their needs and explore how SHE Changes Climate can add value to their work. The response was overwhelming and insightful.
One pressing issue that emerged is the underrepresentation of women in climate negotiations and decision-making processes. Despite being disproportionately impacted by climate change, women’s voices remain marginalized in spaces where crucial decisions are made. This exclusion weakens the global response to the crisis, as it overlooks solutions rooted in women’s unique perspectives and leadership.
Another critical challenge highlighted was the lack of funding for gender-responsive climate action. Women-led grassroots initiatives, which often address the most vulnerable communities, face systemic barriers in accessing climate and biodiversity finance. These barriers include complex accreditation processes favoring large institutions and socio-cultural biases that perpetuate inequalities.
Additionally, the consultations revealed a limited awareness of the gender-climate nexus and persistent gender inequities in climate policies and their implementation. These gaps prevent the creation of effective, inclusive policies that address the needs of diverse communities and foster sustainable development.
Furthermore, women continue to work in silos, disconnected from one another and from broader networks of decision-making. This fragmentation limits the visibility and impact of their solutions. At SHE Changes Climate, we recognize the need to bridge these divides. We are committed to spotlighting and elevating unheard voices and demonstrated women-led solutions, ensuring they are brought to decision-making tables where they can drive meaningful change.
In response to these critical issues, SHE Changes Climate is embarking on a renewed mission to address these calls to action. In 2025, we will work intensively to fill these gaps, amplifying women’s representation, securing funding for gender-responsive climate solutions, and dismantling systemic barriers that hinder progress. We will do this collaboratively, working closely with partners to unify women leaders, create a shared agenda, and collectively take action. Together, we will forge a bold path toward transformative policies and practices that ensure women can lead and thrive in climate action.
Importantly, it is time to harness the power of the collective. The challenges we face demand unity and urgency. Women leaders around the world are calling for action—not tomorrow, but today. It is too late to wait. We must act now.
With COP29 falling short of advancing gender-responsive climate finance and policies, 2025 demands renewed energy, solidarity, and commitment. The stakes have never been higher, and our solutions must leave no one behind.
Your support has been instrumental in driving this movement forward, enabling us to hold leaders accountable and create spaces for underrepresented voices. As we step into a pivotal year, we call on you to stand with us once again.
From all of us at SHE Changes Climate, thank you for being part of this journey. Wishing you a hopeful and resilient New Year!
In solidarity,
Mamta Borgoyary
Executive Director, SHE Changes Climate