Women are the powerhouses of climate action.

Join the #WomenLeadingOnClimate social media campaign on November 11

Let's flood COP29 by sharing and amplifying how women and girls are taking climate action and by demanding urgent and more ambitious climate policies from global leaders.

Join the campaign

NEWS RELEASE

2.5x

Women are 2.5 times more likely to demand that their governments take action
60%

Women are 60% more likely to use their voice for good
2.0x

Women are twice as likely to engage civically on the issue of climate

When it comes to protecting the people and places we love from the effects of climate change, women have led the way.

Catherine McKenna
CEO Climate and Nature Solutions and Founder of Women Leading on Climate

WHAT WE ARE DEMANDING

Women leaders in government, business and civil society are setting new benchmarks for climate progress.

By 2025 countries need to:

Deliver 1.5-aligned climate plans

Accelerate climate programs and actions to keep the world on track for global climate goals
Provide clear plans and milestones

Provide clear plans and milestones to triple clean energy deployment, phase out fossil fuels, and halt deforestation
Seize the economic opportunities

Seize the economic growth opportunities that attract investment and mobilize finance to create prosperity in a clean economy

Maria Mendiluce
CEO, We Mean Business Coalition
Co-founder, Women Leading on Climate

“Women leaders are asking governments for more climate ambition, concrete action plans with milestones and much more coherence in the way they implement them. Women together can make the change happen that is required to limit global warming and keep 1.5 within sight.”

HOW WE LEAD

Women leaders have been a major force behind some of the most important milestones in fighting climate change.

1980

UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher helps put global warming, acid rain and pollution on the mainstream political map
1995

Angela Merkel became the first COP president, and since then four more COP meetings were presided by women
2015

The world witnessed the power of women’s leadership in landing an ambitious Paris Agreement at COP 21
2022

At COP26, Catherine McKenna convenes for the first time WLOC, empowering women to raise their voices and demand climate action
2023

Women successfully pushed for a tripling of renewable energy and a transition away from fossil fuels at COP 28
2024

Women leaders forcefully and successfully advocated for the inclusion of women in the COP29 Organizational Committee

By mobilizing the world’s largest and most committed group of women leaders we are going to take climate progress to the next level.

WHY NOW?

We need women’s climate leadership more than ever in this critical decade for climate.

This is not only about avoiding the worst of the climate crisis but building a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future for all.

Catherine McKenna
CEO, Climate and Nature Solutions
Founder, WLOC

“Women are pushing for more ambitious climate action in negotiating rooms, in boardrooms, in our communities and in the streets. In this critical time for climate action, we need to raise our voices even more. We've seen the power of women. When we come together: We go further, faster.”

"If my 30 years of experience in the climate debate confirmed anything, it is that when women come together around common purpose, we are unstoppable. I welcome this vital initiative to drive forward the opportunities in climate action with determination and courage."

Jennifer Morgan
State Secretary and Special Envoy for International Climate Action, Foreign Federal Office
"The world needs to implement actions as quickly as possible. This group of women leaders, both from business and public sectors, can provide a unique blend of pragmatism and determination to accelerate the necessary transformations."

Marina Grossi
President, Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development - CEBDS
"Women have always been on the frontline when it comes to protecting our children, our families and our communities from threats to our health and wellbeing, so it should come as no surprise that women across the world are leading the charge for climate action now."

Gina McCarthy
Former White House National Climate Advisor and Former US EPA Administrator
"We can only build sustainable and effective solutions to the climate crisis if women are playing a leading role in developing them."

Jessica Anderen
CEO, IKEA Foundation
"Women are not just vulnerable to the climate crisis—they are powerful agents of change. When women are included and empowered, their communities rise with them, accelerating climate action. It is both a moral and practical imperative to ensure women lead in this fight - a just and inclusive approach is the only path to a sustainable future."

Patricia Espinosa
CEO and Founding Partner, Onepoint5
"Climate change is the urgent issue of our time. We need to bring diverse perspectives and solutions to the table, and forge radical collaboration, stronger ambition, and faster action. Women leaders are stepping up in their communities and across public and private sectors, but we need everyone to do their part. Now is the time for climate action."

Kyung-Ah Park
Head, ESG Investment Management and Managing Director, Sustainability, Temasek
"Women are on the front lines of the climate crisis, and they are also leading the charge for change. Empowering women is not just a matter of justice—it’s essential for overcoming the major obstacles we face, from conflict to inequality to climate impacts."

Laurence Tubiana
CEO, European Climate Foundation
"Collective, collaborative action is undoubtedly challenging, yet is critical to tackling the climate crisis. Women bring the skills, intuition and ability to navigate this with urgency and an impact-driven focus."

Shameela Soobramoney
CEO, National Business Initiative
"Women are out in front in workplaces and communities demanding action on climate. We recognise the need for ambition that ensures people and planet are at the heart of just transitions."

Sharan Burrows
Global advocate for human and labour rights, climate action and Just Transition
"We are at a pivotal moment where youth and women are building movements for a just and inclusive response to the climate emergency. The energy transition is not just about access to clean and affordable energy—it’s about breaking cycles of inequity and ensuring everyone has access to opportunities to thrive."

Helen Watts
Executive Director, Student Energy
"Women are on the frontlines of climate change – we are most impacted but most effective in resource management and resilience-building. Our role is crucial for designing and driving inclusive solutions that protect people and planet."

Ilona Szabó de Carvalho
Co-founder and President, Igarapé Group
"We need diverse leadership, including strong female representation, to deliver a net-zero, nature-positive and equitable world."

Eva Zabey
CEO, Business for Nature
"Confronting climate change is an act of love for the people and places we care about. Women and feminist leaders have a special ability, as community leaders and relationship builders, to bring together the coalitions of fierce love and resistance we need to tackle this crisis."

Catherine Abreu
Director, International Climate Politics Hub
"We as business leaders must push for ambitious NDCs and collaborate with governments towards a regulation that reflects the financial risk of climate change. Together, through inclusion and collaboration, we can make a difference, with gender inclusiveness as enabler. Involving our youth in crucial decisions is essential, as they are the future and will be shaped by the decisions we make today."

Ester Baiget
President and CEO, Novonesis
"This initiative is an exciting opportunity for female leaders in sustainability to come together to inspire and challenge each other, to help achieve our common goal of fighting climate change, nature loss and social injustice."

Vanessa Butani
Head of Global Sustainability, Volvo Cars
"When more women lead, in particular women of color and from the geo-political south, we unlock diverse perspectives and innovative solutions to address our most pressing challenges. By strengthening women’s leadership in climate worldwide, we build our collective resilience and pave the way for a sustainable future that benefits us all."

Helen Mountford
CEO of ClimateWorks Foundation
"Japan has experienced one of the hottest and worst summer this year. We glimpsed what a global boiling will do to us, to our economy, to our health, and our quality of life. We have to stop this. When it comes to protecting our children, family and people, women do not give up."

Kahori Miyake
Co-Chair of Japan Climate Leaders' Partnership and Executive Manager of the ESG Strategy and Solution Department at Sumitomo Mitsui
"We urgently need to look beyond our short-term self-interests and implement effective solutions to adapt to our rapidly changing and threatening environment. Investment is a key catalyst for decarbonizing our economy and making it beneficial to all. Today, I am proud to join forces with incredible women to drive positive change at scale."

Sophia Flak
Sustainability & Impact Managing Partner, Member of the Executive Board, Eurazero
"Women Leading on Climate is mobilizing women across sectors and geographies in accelerating and scaling climate action."

Kristina Kloberdanz
Chief Sustainability Officer, Macquarie Asset Management
"In these turbulent times we need everybody on board to respond to the climate challenge. Women holding public office, women at the forefront of business, women in academia and in social organizations can make a great difference, Courageous and united, our voices need to be heard."

Teresa Ribera
EU Commisioner-Designate for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition

WHAT COMES NEXT?

As we gear up for COP29, our network will rally global support for bold climate action through country networks.

We will also launch a global social media campaign to mobilize women and girls demanding stronger action.

OUR PARTNERS

Women are the powerhouses of climate action.

Join the #WomenLeadingOnClimate social media campaign on November 11

Let's flood COP29 by sharing and amplifying how women and girls are taking climate action and by demanding urgent and more ambitious climate policies from global leaders.

2.5x

60%

2.0x

When it comes to protecting the people and places we love from the effects of climate change, women have led the way.

Women leaders in government, business and civil society are setting new benchmarks for climate progress.

By 2025 countries need to:

Deliver 1.5-aligned climate plans

Provide clear plans and milestones

Seize the economic opportunities

“Women leaders are asking governments for more climate ambition, concrete action plans with milestones and much more coherence in the way they implement them. Women together can make the change happen that is required to limit global warming and keep 1.5 within sight.”

Women leaders have been a major force behind some of the most important milestones in fighting climate change.

1980

1995

2015

2022

2023

2024

By mobilizing the world’s largest and most committed group of women leaders we are going to take climate progress to the next level.

We need women’s climate leadership more than ever in this critical decade for climate.

“Women are pushing for more ambitious climate action in negotiating rooms, in boardrooms, in our communities and in the streets. In this critical time for climate action, we need to raise our voices even more. We've seen the power of women. When we come together: We go further, faster.”

"If my 30 years of experience in the climate debate confirmed anything, it is that when women come together around common purpose, we are unstoppable. I welcome this vital initiative to drive forward the opportunities in climate action with determination and courage."

"The world needs to implement actions as quickly as possible. This group of women leaders, both from business and public sectors, can provide a unique blend of pragmatism and determination to accelerate the necessary transformations."

"Women have always been on the frontline when it comes to protecting our children, our families and our communities from threats to our health and wellbeing, so it should come as no surprise that women across the world are leading the charge for climate action now."

"We can only build sustainable and effective solutions to the climate crisis if women are playing a leading role in developing them."

"Women are on the front lines of the climate crisis, and they are also leading the charge for change. Empowering women is not just a matter of justice—it’s essential for overcoming the major obstacles we face, from conflict to inequality to climate impacts."

"Collective, collaborative action is undoubtedly challenging, yet is critical to tackling the climate crisis. Women bring the skills, intuition and ability to navigate this with urgency and an impact-driven focus."

"Women are out in front in workplaces and communities demanding action on climate. We recognise the need for ambition that ensures people and planet are at the heart of just transitions."

"Women are on the frontlines of climate change – we are most impacted but most effective in resource management and resilience-building. Our role is crucial for designing and driving inclusive solutions that protect people and planet."

"We need diverse leadership, including strong female representation, to deliver a net-zero, nature-positive and equitable world."

"Confronting climate change is an act of love for the people and places we care about. Women and feminist leaders have a special ability, as community leaders and relationship builders, to bring together the coalitions of fierce love and resistance we need to tackle this crisis."

"This initiative is an exciting opportunity for female leaders in sustainability to come together to inspire and challenge each other, to help achieve our common goal of fighting climate change, nature loss and social injustice."

"Japan has experienced one of the hottest and worst summer this year. We glimpsed what a global boiling will do to us, to our economy, to our health, and our quality of life. We have to stop this. When it comes to protecting our children, family and people, women do not give up."

"Women Leading on Climate is mobilizing women across sectors and geographies in accelerating and scaling climate action."

"In these turbulent times we need everybody on board to respond to the climate challenge. Women holding public office, women at the forefront of business, women in academia and in social organizations can make a great difference, Courageous and united, our voices need to be heard."

As we gear up for COP29, our network will rally global support for bold climate action through country networks.

We will also launch a global social media campaign to mobilize women and girls demanding stronger action.