Corina Kathrepta
A significantly transforming number of women have taken sustainability roles in the past decade, demonstrating that women’s empowerment in sustainable development is not only growing but is also necessary.
This assertion is backed up by numbers that tell a story of progress. Women today make up 29 percent of C-suite positions, compared with just 17 percent in 2015.
This trend is also noticeable across multiple sectors, with women driving 70–80% of all consumer purchasing decisions and performing almost two-thirds of the world’s work hours. Moreover, women account for 60–80% of food production, although they are challenged when accessing natural resources.
Despite that significant jump, when it comes to sustainability-leading roles occupied by women and promoting gender equality, broader efforts are still needed to ensure similar progress across executive roles.
In honoring the 2025 International Women’s Day and its theme ‘Accelerate Action,’ we emphasize how women leaders reshape sustainable development while examining successful case studies and understanding why gender equality is instrumental for environmental and economic progress.
Women leaders showcase that they are not just participating in sustainability initiatives but are actively transforming them for greater results.
It is apparent that sustainability leadership is going through a transformation, mostly in corporate boardrooms and environmental initiatives. Companies with women holding the reins demonstrate higher ESG scores, while they also reveal improved records in adopting environmentally friendly practices. Recent data show a substantial increase in women’s presence across sustainability sectors. Currently, women hold 54% of Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) positions in the U.S., nearly doubling from 28% in 2011. Moreover, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, women comprised two-thirds of the management and negotiations teams.
Nevertheless, challenges persist. On the global stage, merely one-third of national delegates participate in annual UN climate conferences. Additionally, despite women’s crucial role in managing households, agriculture, and natural resources, they often lack opportunities to embrace positions that involve decision-making.
It is inspiring to acknowledge that across various regions, women are spearheading innovative sustainability initiatives. In India, the Solar Mamas program has trained 3,500 women from 93 countries, consequently providing 2.5 million people with solar-powered lighting. Similarly, in Cameroon, women-led landscape management boards have achieved 32% female participation across nine municipalities.
In key sustainability sectors, women take the lead, such as in corporate leadership, where, according to research, 58% of sustainability executives are women. These women are aware that proper waste management and resource conservation should be a priority. Additionally, in countries where more women are represented in Parliament, it is more likely to ratify environmental treaties. In India, for example, more drinking water projects took place in areas with women-led councils compared to men-led councils. Moreover, women investors actively promote sustainability initiatives, underscoring their strong preference for investments that align with environmental considerations. Businesses with more women on their boards then invest appropriately in energy efficiency and renewable power generation.
Tangible positive results are evident when women are leading sustainability sectors. An intriguing perspective indicated in studies shows the correlation between female representation on boards and how they approach problems and solve them, as well as how they can identify social and environmental risks more efficiently compared to men. For instance, women in leadership roles demonstrate a willingness to exceed expectations in reducing emissions.
It is something in the women’s unique style of leading that propels sustainable development forward, yielding remarkable outcomes across multiple dimensions. This approach effectively blends long-term vision with stakeholder-focused decision-making.
Companies that assign women to leadership positions outperform their counterparts in ESG metrics, showing higher shareholder returns. Remarkably, when women run sustainable strategies, not only do they succeed in reducing capital costs by up to 10%, but they also enhance brand credibility by up to 30%. For example, sectors such as banking, led by women, exhibit stronger environmental consciousness as they are less inclined to finance heavily polluting industries. Respectively, female leaders in local governments usually rank higher on sustainability indices. Boards with at least 50% female representation are likely to experience improved ESG performance.
Due to their versatile nature, unique characteristics such as an innovative perspective, and increased social awareness, women have the power to implement environmental initiatives and ultimately drive successful sustainability transformations. Companies that consider gender diversity on boards are 60% more likely to reduce energy consumption intensity and 39% more likely to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. More women are needed in directorial positions, as they support sustainability and recognize why it should be integrated into their business decisions, ultimately bringing value and knowledge to corporate boards. Their decisions and actions are thoroughly examined by a risk-informed approach rather than avoidance.
A few of the worthy traits that highlight women’s leadership style involve collaboration, trust-building, and conflict resolution. These values are particularly required in community-based environmental projects. Each time they combine stakeholder interests with performance-based goals, foster innovative initiatives, or prioritize employee well-being and community development, their remarkable ability becomes evident.
According to studies, companies whose financial impact is associated with improved ESG performance have more female directors, especially younger ones. This allows them to reach for more comprehensive solutions, as their longer-term perspective on sustainability extends beyond immediate profitability. This balanced approach creates lasting positive impacts on both environmental preservation and social development.
We can see, across the globe, how female innovators lead the way in technological solutions to tackle environmental challenges, a powerful combination of scientific expertise along with practical implementation that creates lasting impact on sustainability. In Kenya, the female entrepreneur Nzambi Matee established Gjenge Makers, transforming recycled plastic into durable paving stones for schools. Likewise, Dr. Merve Senem Seven developed SOYL-GEL, an innovative water retention solution enabling agriculture in arid regions.
In Ghana, Bernice Dapaag champions eco-mobility through bamboo bikes, fostering sustainable transportation alternatives. Meanwhile, Marta Cañada leads the development of cost-effective hybrid solar panels. These women-led ventures demonstrate how they are capable of addressing pressing environmental challenges.
Women globally are harnessing digital technology to create powerful environmental monitoring systems, such as in China, where Xiaoyuan Ren founded MyH2O, an app that tracks water quality in rural communities through a nationwide network of trained youth volunteers.
The impact of these innovations extends beyond technology. In The Gambia, an all-female solar panel installation team, trained by Fandema, installed 1,600 panels generating 500 kilowatts at peak power, saving 290 tons of CO2 emissions annually. This project also challenged gender stereotypes in technical fields.
Through these initiatives, women leaders consistently demonstrate their ability to merge technological innovation with environmental stewardship. Their solutions often incorporate community engagement and practical implementation strategies, ensuring long-term sustainability and widespread adoption.
To enable women leaders in sustainable development, it is imperative to create robust support systems. The more structured assistance programs, the fewer barriers; hence, women are encouraged to participate in environmental decision-making. Mentorship programs, such as the one from Women4Climate that has implemented 44 programs across 22 cities worldwide, connect emerging climate leaders with experienced professionals. Through this initiative, 68% of mentees strengthened their climate programming skills.
The Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition (GWNET) runs specialized mentoring programs focusing on renewable energy, wind power, and energy storage sectors. These programs accelerate career advancement for women in junior and middle management positions.
International policy mechanisms increasingly recognize gender-environment linkages. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) made history by becoming the first Multilateral Environmental Agreement to adopt a Gender Plan of Action. Following suit, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) integrated gender considerations into its 2017-2020 strategic framework.
Currently, 178 countries maintain legal barriers preventing women’s full economic participation. Therefore, governments must enact laws promoting equal participation in public and private spheres. Organizations need gender-neutral human resource processes since women receive fewer developmental opportunities although they request them at similar rates as men.
When discussing initiatives carried out by women, we cannot overlook the importance of financial support. Indigenous women’s groups receive less than 1% of recorded human rights global funding. Unfortunately, only one-third of climate finance projects consider gender equality.
Fundamentally, women own less than 20% of the world’s land, although they perform 80% of agricultural work. This disparity underscores the urgent need for equitable resource distribution and property rights reform to facilitate effective women’s leadership in sustainable development.
To sum up, women leaders have proven essential for sustainable development through measurable results and groundbreaking approaches. Research clearly shows that organizations with women in leadership positions achieve better environmental outcomes, stronger community engagement, and higher ESG performance. Their unique leadership manner, combining long-term vision with stakeholder-focused decision-making, drives successful sustainability transformations across sectors.
There is still so much progress to be made and challenges to be overcome, including the limited access to resources, persistent legal barriers, and inadequate representation in key decision-making positions still hindering women’s full potential in sustainable development. Therefore, strengthening support systems through mentorship programs, policy reforms, and equitable resource distribution becomes crucial for future success.
Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, we expect women leaders to keep growing in know-how and eventually act as catalysts in addressing global environmental and social challenges.
