Three Ingredients for Building an Inclusive, Equitable Gender and Climate Justice Movement
By Mwanahamisi Singano
The climate crisis is an ever-looming specter that threatens life on our planet. Its impacts are felt worldwide, but its burden falls disproportionately on the shoulders of the global majority countries and most vulnerable communities. Existing structural inequalities and discriminatory norms exacerbate the predicament of women and girls, leaving them in a state of near-constant resource scarcity. Their leadership in climate action, and specifically their roles as environmental defenders and stewards, often places them on the frontlines of increased risks of violence and exploitation.
From increased debt burden, loss of livelihoods, and risks to health — to migration and displacement challenges — the intersection of climate and gender inequalities highlights the urgent need for a united front in the fight against this existential threat. To tackle this colossal challenge, we must build a movement to fit the scale of the issues we are facing, and one that transcends borders and boundaries. Doing so means embracing unity, diversity, and inclusivity to nurture a movement that encompasses climate campaigners, gender equality advocates, SRHR and women’s organizations, and other social justice movements.
Such collaboration amplifies voices, ensuring that those most marginalized — including women and girls — take the lead in demanding climate justice. By pooling our strengths and expertise, we can develop intersectional solutions that address the complex web of challenges faced by different communities. Our unity empowers us to challenge extractive and exclusionary systems, paving the way for equitable and sustainable solutions.
How can we build such a “movement of movements”? This question, which was posed to me at a plenary I participated in during Women Deliver 2023, prompted a reflection — from my work with the Women and Gender Constituency and in other coalition spaces —on what principles underpin collaboration and solidarity between different social justice organizations.
At its core, I believe this type of movement building hinges on three crucial ingredients.
Embracing Diversity: Our identities and differences are not challenges to overcome, but gifts that enrich our collective strength. Our multiple identities in the form of gender, race, religion, geographical location, age, ability, and more inform who we are and shapes our experiences and realities within the sphere of shared humanity. Embracing diversities allows us to appreciate a wide array of perspectives and experiences. It is through this appreciation that we can foster a united and stronger front in tackling the multifaceted climate crisis. From the local to the global level, we recognize that every voice matters, and every experience counts.
Shared Vision and Ideologies: Embracing diversity does not contradict developing a shared vision. For a gender and climate justice movement to succeed, we must rally around a common destination — for example, by learning from each other across movements, developing collective demands, and working to achieve ambitious goals according to feminist principles. By aligning our goals and ideologies, we can harness the power of collective action and ensure that efforts complement one another rather than duplicate or compete. Collaborations between the climate, gender equality, and other movements must be founded on a shared understanding of the interconnectedness of their respective struggles. A shared vision enables us to optimize the use of different thematic areas, strategies, and tools to maximize impact. By forging horizontal connections and then linking these efforts at regional, continental, and global levels, we build a formidable force for change.
Respective, Supportive, and Dignified Participation: Building an inclusive movement means ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard, valued, and respected. Recognizing the systemic barriers faced by marginalized groups, it is essential to prioritize the participation of those most affected by climate change. This involves creating safe spaces for dialogue, listening to the needs and concerns of different communities, providing translation and interpretation services, and actively seeking input from grassroots organizations. A movement that is truly inclusive is one where all members have power to take ownership of their contributions and share decision-making processes. It is fair to note, attracting individuals to join the movement is challenging but retaining them is even harder. By creating inclusive spaces, we dismantle oppressive structures, and build structures that uplift and support all members of our movement. The gender and climate justice movement should not seek to replicate the systems of extraction and exclusion that have perpetuated inequality and environmental degradation. Instead, it must embrace a systems change approach that places justice, equity, wellbeing, and sustainability at its core.
Building an inclusive and equitable movement for gender and climate justice is a challenging but essential endeavor. We owe it to ourselves, and our shared principles and values, to break down silos and work collectively to address the pressing challenges of climate change while ensuring the rights and dignity of all individuals are upheld. It is imperative to note that the commitments of individuals are the foundation of collective strength. The personal is political, and our personal struggles inform our collective efforts towards transformation. In countries and regions around the globe, local climate movements intertwine with gender equality advocates and other social justice causes. Our collective resilience lies in our global solidarity, transcending borders and boundaries as we confront the climate crisis head-on.
The gender and climate justice movement — and the new and strengthened bridges it’s building to movements for economic justice, peace, and SRHR — stands as a testament to our commitment to uproot these injustices and pave the way for a future where equity, sustainability, and dignity flourish.
Learn more about gender and climate justice from the Women’s Environment and Development Organization.
Mwanahamisi (“Mishy”) Singano is an African feminist passionate about fighting structural and intersecting inequalities while contributing to a more just, equal, fairer, and sustainable world. At WEDO, Mwanahamisi serves as Senior Global Policy Lead.
