In 2015, the UN General Assembly set out the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, outlining 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a blueprint for a better and sustainable future. At the heart of achieving these SDGs is the vital role of women and girls, who constitute more than half the world’s population.

The full participation of women is essential, and their leadership and contributions are crucial to finding solutions to global environmental and economic crises. Women play a critical role in conserving, managing, and utilizing natural resources. In rural communities, they are the primary agricultural producers, making them essential for countries’ food security.

In our top 10 reads this month, we spotlight the strides and opportunities for women across the globe towards achieving the SDGs in line with this year’s slogan for International Day for Biological Diversity “Building a shared future for all life.” These curated reads underpin biodiversity as the foundation upon which civilization is built, focusing on climate, food, and water security solutions.

1. One woman’s winning idea in taking climate action harnesses the power of the sun

Across the world, women are often the hardest hit by the effects of climate change, but it does not have to be so. For one lady in Tanzania, the sun proved to be a simple solution to a complex situation for many women in her home country and across the African continent.

2. Food, Firewood, Water And Empowerment: Women Addressing Climate Change In Rural Africa

In Africa, rural communities are considered the least developed in society. Finding solutions to their daily challenges has always been a way of life for these communities. One group of rural women in Kenya is solving their challenges, one essential need at a time, and raising the living standards of their entire community

3. Empowering Women in Forest Communities is Key to Achieving Climate Goals and SDGs

Forests play a crucial role in reducing the effects of climate change. Across the planet, 1.6 billion people, primarily women, depend on forests for their subsistence and income. Yet, the role of women in conserving these natural wonders remains unrecognized. In an age where the world faces multiple threats due to climate change, forests are a lifeline, and women deserve an equal say on their protection, use, and management.

4. Natural Protectors: Kenyan Women Step Up to Save a Forest

In Northern Kenya, women from the Samburu community have taken an active role in conservation by helping to develop a forest management plan to protect the shrinking forests that once provided for their community. Their traditional knowledge and the disproportionate impacts of climate change have seen a dynamic shift of women’s conventional roles into protectors through local user groups.

5. How can more women power the transition to green industry?

A report by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) across four countries reveals that integrating gender in policies and programs will hasten sustainable development. The report further calls on practitioners and policymakers to capitalize on women’s untapped potential as leaders in the green economy.

6. Why African Women are Key to Address Climate Change and Food Security

This discussion by World Bank explores how women can accelerate action toward inclusive development. Today, women’s bold contributions are gaining recognition as the world builds back against a backdrop of Covid-19 and a climate crisis.

7. Celebrating women making food systems more sustainable

Women are at the heart of food systems. They are producers, farmers, vendors, consumers, and more. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations states that women constitute 43 percent of the developing countries’ agricultural workforce. In rural areas, they are instrumental in the fight against malnutrition and hunger. This article highlights several women worldwide making significant strides in achieving sustainable food systems.

8. Women are the future of African conservation

When women join conservation, they increase the number of people protecting biodiversity and get a chance to capitalize on their unique relationship with nature. Empowering women can induce transformative change, resulting in economic security, climate change adaptation and mitigation, an increase in the food supply, and better forest and water management.

9. Sixteen women restoring the Earth

This article celebrates 16 women leaders from across the world who are working to restore and protect the universe through policy, science, and land rights, among other aspects. Covid-19 has brought to the limelight the power of women in leadership.

10. Women fishers are vital to the livelihoods, food security, health and culture of billions worldwide

Women in fishing and coastal communities worldwide are significant contributors to the blue economy and blue food systems. According to the UN, 3 billion people depend on coastal and marine biodiversity, with the figure expected to rise to 10 billion by 2050. As we recognize women’s contributions in this sector, gender equity and empowerment are fundamental to women leading the blue economy.