Women’s leadership in environmental action
Women’s participation in environmental decision-making is important for advancing
both gender equality and environmental action. The presence of women in political
decision-making is linked to more ambitious climate goals and policies. Women on corporate
boards consistently prioritise environmental, social and governance issues, including
climate and sustainability. In civil society, women around the world are creating
powerful networks to combat environmental degradation and tackle climate-related inequalities.
Despite these benefits, significant gender gaps in environmental leadership persist
across countries and sectors, with some of the widest occurring in countries especially
vulnerable to climate change and where its gender‑differentiated impacts are most
acute. This paper reviews existing evidence on women’s environmental leadership in
public governance, environmentally-sensitive industries, and civil society, and its
impact on environmental outcomes in these sectors. It identifies potential policy
actions as well as areas for further data collection and research.
Published on April 29, 2022
In series:OECD Environment Working Papersview more titles