How empowering women and girls can help stop global warming | Katharine Wilkinson

Summary

The transcript highlights the interconnectedness of gender equity and climate change, emphasizing that empowering women and girls is crucial for environmental sustainability. It underscores the importance of women in agriculture, education, and family planning as key areas where gender equity can significantly reduce emissions. The speaker calls for collective action, recognizing the potential of women as agents of change and urging everyone to embrace their roles in addressing the climate crisis.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Global warming and the empowerment of women and girls are two significant, yet often overlooked, phenomena that are interconnected in addressing climate change.
• 🌱 'Project Drawdown' identifies 80 existing solutions to reduce climate-changing emissions, including renewable energy, green buildings, efficient transportation, and gender equity.
• 🔗 Gender equity is crucial for climate action as it enhances resilience and reduces emissions through three key areas: agriculture, education, and family planning.
• 👩‍🌾 Women are primary farmers in many lower-income countries, producing 60-80% of food, but face disparities in access to resources, which, if addressed, could significantly increase yields and reduce deforestation.
• 📚 Education is a powerful tool for women and girls, leading to better health, financial security, and the ability to navigate a climate-changing world, as well as contributing to lower emissions through smaller family sizes.
• 👶 Family planning and access to reproductive health care are vital for women's autonomy, dignity, and for reducing population growth, which in turn helps to decrease demand for resources and emissions.
• 🌳 Supporting women smallholders in agriculture can prevent substantial emissions, comparable to the impact of global household recycling, by increasing yields and reducing the need for deforestation.
• 🌐 The empowerment of women and girls is not just about addressing negative impacts but also about leveraging their vital voices and agency for change in the face of climate challenges.
• 💰 There is a significant disparity in the allocation of philanthropic funds towards women and the environment, highlighting the need for more equitable investment in these areas.
• 🌟 Women and girls are a fierce source of possibility and must be included in the development and implementation of climate solutions, as they are not just part of the problem but also part of the solution.
• 📣 The call to action is for everyone to act as messengers, spreading awareness about the importance of gender equity in addressing climate change and advocating for a more inclusive and effective approach.

Q & A

What are the two powerful phenomena unfolding on earth according to the transcript?

The two powerful phenomena are the rise of global warming and the rise of women and girls.

What is 'Project Drawdown' and what does it aim to achieve?

'Project Drawdown' is an effort that has identified 80 best practices and technologies already in hand to draw down heat-trapping, climate-changing emissions from the atmosphere.

How does gender equity relate to addressing global warming according to the speaker?

Gender equity is a key solution to the planetary challenge of global warming, as it can help secure rights, shore up resilience, and avert emissions simultaneously.

What is the primary link between women, girls, and a warming world in terms of impact?

The primary link is that climate impacts hit women and girls hardest due to existing vulnerabilities, leading to greater risks of displacement, injury, early marriage, and other challenges.

How does supporting women smallholders in agriculture contribute to climate change mitigation?

Supporting women smallholders can lead to higher yields, which in turn can help avoid deforestation and sustain forests, contributing to the reduction of emissions.

What is the estimated impact of addressing inequity in agriculture on emissions reduction by 2050?

Addressing inequity in agriculture could prevent two billion tons of emissions between now and 2050.

Why is education for girls important in the context of climate change?

Education for girls leads to better health, financial security, and agency, and can also result in lower emissions due to later marriages and smaller family sizes.

How does access to family planning contribute to climate change mitigation?

Access to family planning allows for children by choice rather than chance, which can lead to a reduction in population growth and, consequently, lower demand for resources and emissions.

What is the estimated impact of closing gaps in education and family planning on global population and emissions by mid-century?

Closing these gaps could result in one billion fewer people on earth by mid-century, potentially avoiding nearly 120 billion tons of emissions.

What role does the speaker ask the audience to play in addressing climate change?

The speaker asks the audience to play the role of messengers, spreading awareness, sharing solutions, and advocating for gender equity as a means to address climate change.

Why is it important to include women and girls in the conversation and solutions for climate change?

It is important because women and girls are vital voices and agents for change, and their inclusion ensures a more diverse and effective approach to solving the climate crisis.