International Women’s Day 2021

Being the majority of the world’s poorest, women are facing higher risks and suffering greater burdens from the impacts of climate change.

This has to stop. Without gender equity, there is no climate justice.

On International Women’s Day, we are celebrating the extraordinary women we are lucky enough to work alongside. Women like Ruthy, Adelina & Sim are true changemakers who are helping to keep rainforest standing.

Ruthy, Papua New Guinea.

When it comes to rainforest protection, we’re proud to work alongside women like Ruthy who truly champion our collective cause. Ruthy works as a Biodiversity Officer in Sololo village, Papua New Guinea. Her passion for rainforest and her relationship with the local community makes Ruthy a key member of our team. After completing the adult literacy programme, Ruthy’s dedication to knowledge sharing and forest education has only deepened, and her enthusiasm for rainforest protection is evident to everyone she meets.

Education empowers. As well as the ability to negotiate away proposals from loggers, education can help people to make informed decisions about their land. These literacy programmes give women the confidence to seek a broader range of employment, become more involved in community decisions and provide the opportunity to manage their own sustainable businesses.

Adelina, Mozambique.

Poverty, extreme weather and increasing global inequality have placed pressure on the forest around Mount Namuli. Queen Adelina, a spiritual leader of Namuli, started to notice her ancestral landscape changing as deforestation grew due to unsustainable agriculture.

After participating in permagarden training delivered by Cool Earth’s partner, Legado, Adelina learned new approaches for smallholder agriculture to ensure soil is healthy, rich and fertile. Adelina has encouraged many to adopt these new techniques, and her participation has inspired more women in the community to join training workshops.

By working together to create plans for the future of local farming, the families of Namuli have a better chance of protecting their remaining forest well into the future.

Sim, Cambodia.

It’s the determination of women like Sim that means projects that support local women to earn a living through chicken husbandry, rice farming and veterinary training are successful. Sim is now able to help other women in her village take control of their finances, futures and forest too.

Sustainably raising chickens is helping women remain financially resilient, have a greater say within their household and communities, and provides a much-needed source of protein for themselves and their families.

Women’s equal involvement in conservation and climate action is essential if we are to fairly and effectively fight climate change. With your support, women living in rainforest can change lives, alleviate poverty, tackle hunger and reduce pressure on the local forest

Let’s build an equal future for people, forest and the climate.