Women at the frontlines of climate action: local power for global change
By
Tamara Mohr
Last week, GAGGA, the Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action, with Both ENDS as one of the Alliance members, together with FCAM and Mama Cash, organised its Global Meeting in Indonesia. The goal of this meeting was to recognise, celebrate and look ahead at cross-movement and cross-regional connections, to strengthen the collective power of gender, climate and environmental justice movements.
We welcomed 80 partners from 27 countries around the world. 96% of them were girls, women, and trans, intersex and non-binary people. They represent community-based organisations, non-governmental organisations, environmental justice groups and women’s funds working at the forefront of the intersection between women’s rights, and environmental and climate justice.
Shared struggles and strategies
It was amazing to see, hear and feel the strength, commitment and resilience of this group that is so diverse, yet so aligned in their struggles, strategies and proposals. Both ENDS has been engaging with some of them for more than the 10 years of GAGGA. Others I met for the first time, including community-based organisations from Ecuador, Peru, Mozambique and India, women who have strengthened their knowledge, actions and solutions related to climate change.
In our discussions on the impact of their work over the past years, many realised they tend to underestimate what they have already achieved, simply because there is still so much more to do. But achieving local climate policy changes, budget allocations, improved or new legislation, or the protection and restoration of forests and mangroves takes many years.
Women become leaders
GAGGA shows us that the impact of the work of these women is on another level. It is essential for long-term change at the intersection of women’s rights and environmental and climate justice. Women are realising the role they can play. They gain strength, become leaders, connect with other groups to jointly build knowledge, grow confident in decision-making processes and mobilise their communities.
It starts at the local level, in their communities and in their municipalities. They speak out, share ideas, and lead by example. Many women told me how they were not taken seriously before, but are now approached as a reference. Their contributions are requested at all levels. They are seen, respected, and they cannot be ignored.
That, to me, is the foundation for system change. These women are growing stronger with every step. They speak directly with donors, institutions and governments. And all of this takes time. It requires the kind of long-term, flexible support that GAGGA provides.
As one of the partners beautifully said during the meeting: “When women are strong, it is also a form of self-care and protection among each other, collective care. We cannot move forward alone. We have resisted men and they have realised that we are strong, and now they are looking for women as allies.”
From local solutions to global influence
Supporting these powerful local groups and linking their struggles and solutions to global-level policymaking has led to key achievements. These range from the withdrawal of development banks from harmful dam projects and efforts to ensure a responsible exit, to the prevention of new mining projects, avoiding further harm to the environment and communities. Existing and new climate initiatives have also been improved as a result of women’s leadership. One powerful example is the promotion of gender-just climate solutions such as Analog Forestry, now supported by more than 40 women across the globe who lead ecological restoration efforts.
The role of GAGGA and Both ENDS
GAGGA’s and Both ENDS’ key role lies in both financial and non-financial support to women’s rights and environmental justice groups working on climate-related issues. For many groups, the support provided by GAGGA, flexible and long-term, is the only funding with these essential characteristics. Most other funding is tied to fixed themes or predefined activities, which is difficult to manage in a world where change is constant.
Beyond funding, GAGGA creates space for learning and exchange. The conversations at the Global Meeting made clear there is a huge appetite to learn from one another. Both ENDS also brings in advocacy expertise, helping to shape and implement joint agendas with partners. For example, over the past ten years, Both ENDS and partners have successfully advocated for increased local access to funding from the Green Climate Fund, which currently fails to reach the grassroots level.
Furthermore, GAGGA promotes gender-just climate solutions that deserve far more visibility, political recognition and financial support, because these are real climate solutions.
A commitment to continue
I am aware that these are challenging times. But experiencing the dynamics, the proposals and the energy at the Global Meeting gives me a renewed sense of commitment and responsibility. We must search for all possible ways to continue, expand and deepen this work.
Because for me, this is the perfect example of what Both ENDS aims to achieve: Connecting People for Change.
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