"Without gender equality today, a sustainable future, and an equal future, remains beyond our reach." 

-UN Women

I must confess that I am tempted from time to time to give up on achieving gender equality in my lifetime. But then I reflect on all the reasons that a more gender equal world is essential for a future worth working towards.

Staying committed to the work necessary to keep gender equality front and center includes both celebrating the contributions of women which is a part of every International Women’s Day and continuing to use platforms like this one to highlight the remaining barriers to equal opportunities, equal representation, equal rights (there’s still no guarantee of that in the US Constitution) and equal representation across all sectors of life and work. 

On this International Women’s Day, along with UN Women, I’m amplifying this year's theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow,” that highlights the women leaders who are working to solve one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century, advancing gender equality in the context of the climate crisis.

#WomenLeadClimate

As women and girls bear the burden of climate impacts, they are also essential to leading and driving change in climate adaptation, mitigation and solutions. And like many of us who have been on these frontlines of change, I recognize that the big changes going forward — the shifts necessary to reverse the damages and hold governments and companies accountable to finding and implementing solutions — will come from the hundreds of thousands of young climate activists who have taken up the fight as if their lives depended on it…and their future does. As does ours. 

Women and girls are effective and powerful leaders and change-makers for climate adaptation and mitigation. They are involved in sustainability initiatives around the world, and their participation and leadership results in more effective climate action. Continuing to examine the opportunities, as well as the constraints, to empower women and girls to have a voice and be equal players in decision-making related to climate change and sustainability is essential for sustainable development and greater gender equality. Without gender equality today, a sustainable future will remain beyond our reach.

So let’s all get involved 

Attend the Official Event: The United Nations Observance of International Women’s Day under the theme, “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow,” will be marked by a virtual event on Tuesday, 8 March 2022, 10–11.30 a.m. EST. Register to attend

The Observance will feature the Secretary-General together with UN Women’s Executive Director Sima Sami Bahous, high-level dignitaries from the United Nations, as well as Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Ms. Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, president, Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad, Dr. Katharine Wilkinson, author and environmentalist; Leader of The All We Can Save Project, and Maria Reyes, member of Fridays for Future Most Affected Peoples and Areas and leader of the Action Coalition on the Generation Equality Feminist Action for Climate Justice, among other sustainability advocates and gender champions who will offer reflections on the day’s theme. The event will also include musical performances by Angelica Hale and Broadway singers. 

Visit the UN Women Site: Read interviews with young climate activists who are leading the movement, such as Vanessa Nakate, Alejandra Quiguantar, and Niria Alicia Garcia, among others.

Vanessa Nakate (top left) is a Ugandan climate change activist and founder of the Africa-based Rise Up Movement. She says: "We can't have climate justice without poverty eradication, we can’t have climate justice without achieving zero hunger. We can’t have climate justice without gender equality." Read more in her Q&A.

As a leader of Tejiendo Pensamiento and a member of the Generation Equality Action Coalition on Feminist Justice, Alejandra Quiguantar (top right) has dedicated her work in Colombia to facilitating the skills, education and training of indigenous women to support their advocacy in climate spaces. “Climate change has put Indigenous people in vulnerable situations, especially girls, who suffer the worst consequences of the environmental crisis and run the risk of suffering from violence when seeking food, water, or access to education,” she says. Read more...

Niria Alicia Garcia is a Xicana climate justice organizer, human rights advocate and educator who works to protect the earth, and promote the dignity of historically oppressed peoples in Mexico. “Every person here has a commitment to protecting the givers of life, be that our women, our birthing people, our waters and springs, our fertile soils and fresh winds. We have to protect these sacred fountains of life for our own sake,” she says. Read more...

Post Graphics to Social: Generation Equality partners, leaders and commitment makers are encouraged to use Generation Equality International Women’s Day and climate graphics to mark International Women’s Day and elevate the continued importance and relevance of the Generation Equality agenda. You can access the social media Trello board and spread the message here.

In spite of the setbacks on equal rights and freedoms that are being felt in many countries, including the US, I will pause for a moment to celebrate what we have accomplished, and in fact elevating those stories is a big part of why I write this newsletter every week. No, I will not give up or give in nor am I ready to pass the gender justice torch fully to the next generation. But I am using today’s reminder to hold it higher and brighter in solidarity with all those pushing towards a Generation Equality. 

Onward!

-Pat