WRTHY’s Post

100 Days of Inspirational Women: Day 31 - Ineza Umuhoza Grace Ineza Umuhoza Grace is an incredibly inspiring woman who’s making a difference in the fight against climate change in Rwanda and beyond. As an eco-feminist, she founded The Green Protector, a Rwandan NGO that gets young people actively involved in protecting the environment. She also co-founded and coordinates the Loss and Damage Youth Coalition, a powerful network of over 400 youth from more than 40 countries, all working to tackle climate-related loss and damage. At a young age she has already done a lot to empower others, especially from the Global South, to drive change in their communities. I've had the honour of meeting Ineza a few times and got to have a deep conversation with her at the Women Deliver conference in Rwanda last year. Ineza also wrote a blog for The Elders Foundation with a foreword by Hina Jilani, which remains a must-read even after two years. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/e4Ruk9qP Ineza is a powerhouse of smarts! She’s an intelligent, lateral thinker who can weave together complex themes and really highlight their intersectionality. We need voices like Ineza’s to remind us not to fall into the trap of thinking in trends. Talking about loss and damage isn’t just a 2022 trend! The issues raised at COP27 are still as pressing, if not more so, today for communities losing land, homes, cultures, and livelihoods to the climate and nature crises. That’s why Ineza’s unwavering voice is so crucial. In short, Ineza Umuhoza Grace is a fierce advocate in the climate justice movement. Her work empowers young people to take charge and keeps critical issues at the forefront of global conversations. - - - - - - - Background to ‘100 Days of Inspirational Women’: Much of the work I focus on day to day revolves around catastrophic risks or on the injustices affecting global communities. It can feel heavy, it can feel gloomy. I decided to counter the darker side of my work with this personal LinkedIn project: "100 Days of Inspirational Women." 📷: Borrowed from Ineza’s social media as my photo of her is a bit outdated!

We are proud to announce that our Executive Director, Ignacio Packer, is one the signatories of the Geneva Pledge for Gender-Responsive Climate Action which was officially endorsed last Friday at the United Nations Palais des Nations by more than 20 Member States, backed up by 60+ leaders and international gender champions from UN Permanent Missions, international and civil society organisations. Ignacio's signing of the pledge is a logical next step, following his commitment in January 2024 to become part of the International Gender Champions, and this summer's Caux Inner Development Goals Forum which explored the qualities and skills essential for decision-makers leading on gender-responsive climate action. The Geneva Pledge for Gender-Responsive Climate Action establishes common principles for gender-responsive climate decision-making and action. The pledge is the result of extensive discussions, thorough consideration of diverse contributions, and consensus-oriented decision-making and is rooted in the recognition that the climate crisis poses a significant and urgent threat to our planet and its people, with disproportionate impacts on women, girls, and those in vulnerable and marginalised situations. The co-chairs of the IGC Climate Impact Group - Elise Buckle, President/ CEO of Climate Bridges - WE Build Bridges for Climate & Sustainability and Founder of SHE Builds Bridges for Climate Action, and Christian Guillermet Fernandez , Permanent Representative, Costa Rica (who had both been speakers at the Caux IDG Forum in July), Ambassador Dr. Katharina Stasch, Permanent Representative, Germany and Jagan Chapagain, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - IFRC - came with a message of hope, and a message of urgency: the urgency to unite more than ever around our shared values and commitment to champion inclusion and diversity in the climate space. The pledge’s six Common Principles include: ⿡ Champion equitable representation ⿢ Advocate for gender-responsive climate finance ⿣ Integrate strategies to break down silos ⿤ Base decisions on gender-responsive analysis and data ⿥ Push for legal and institutional reforms ⿦ Promote a care perspective benefiting people and planet. As COP29 Azerbaijan kicked off yesterday, we look forward to a growing coalition of countries and organizations endorsing the pledge. Find the full text here: https://lnkd.in/eignNzTD You can register your interest at: admin@genderchampions.com. #WEBuildBridges for #ClimateAction, #WomenLeadership #GenderBalance #Inclusion #Diversity #cauxfoundation #genderchamption #bethechange Initiatives of Change Initiatives of Change United Kingdom Inner Development Goals Inner Development Goals Switzerland Sarah Santacroce Nadene C. Rafaela Rolim Pontus Holmgren Sarah Noble Jacqueline Coté Ines Mokdadi Sidra Raslan Alan Channer Dr. Irina Fedorenko-Aula Rishabh Khanna Hannah Reinl (she/her)

It was inspiring to see the spotlight on women during Climate Week NYC 2024. Programs like these highlight the critical role women are playing in driving climate action and solutions. From entrepreneurship to policy, women are leading the charge, proving that diversity is key to tackling the complex issues of climate change. It’s encouraging to see platforms elevating female voices, ensuring our perspectives are heard and our contributions recognized. This work not only empowers current leaders and pave the way for future generations. #ClimateWeek #ClimateChange #WomenInClimate

SDG Media Zone is LIVE this week! The SDG Media Zone is an initiative created by the UN 2.0 | United Nations to engage global audiences in conversations about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It serves as a platform for influencers, experts, activists, policymakers, and media representatives to discuss critical global challenges and share solutions through interviews, panel discussions, and live-streamed events These conversations occur during key events like the UN General Assembly and other global forums, making it a powerful tool for spreading the message of sustainable development. This is YOUR chance to discuss climate action, ending poverty, gender equality, and more. Tune in, get inspired, and make your voice heard. https://lnkd.in/gsTgNG6v #sdg11 #sustainablecities

⭐ Thank you Audrey Selian and Deborah Keller for hosting us at Impact for Breakfast this morning! What a great conversation and engaged crowd. 🌟 Gender-smart climate finance is still relatively nascent and while much progress has been made in both climate finance and gender finance, we’re still at the early stage of thinking what the intersection looks like in practice. "According to the climate policy initiative, less than 1% of $1.3T climate flows have a gender lens - there’s a huge opportunity to be more holistic in our approaches', said Sana Kapadia, who provided the context for the discussion. Heading for Change investee Nora Bavey at Unconventional Ventures then talked about their climate + diversity investment approach, inspired by her lived experience of bias and gaps in the market. There is a big difference between the successful ‘gender equality brand’ exported by the Nordics, and the reality of access depending on background, gender and/or socio-economic status. “In the climate space we’ve completely lost track of social impact. It’s been reserved for later - but for me, really and truly, climate starts with social.” This value of lived experience and local perspective was a theme in the discussion, and later in the discussion several participants discussed the disconnect between investor perspectives and the rural communities proximate to climate challenges, who are a rich source of insight and risk mitigation when designing investment solutions. There are subtle gender and climate patterns that are only revealed when speaking to people on the ground. But capturing that local data with enough scale and nuance to inform investment design is expensive - perhaps, our host suggested, we might put our heads together to address the problem of how to capture it. #impactinvesting #genderlensinvesting #climatefinance

Homi Kharas and John W. McArthur provide a nuanced assessment of global progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations in 2015. Despite global conflicts and crises, they argue that notable improvements have been made in various areas, even though progress is uneven. Their study, conducted with Odera Onyechi, reveals that 18 out of 24 SDG indicators have improved since 2015, particularly in HIV/AIDS treatment and access to electricity in low-income countries. However, six areas have experienced stagnation or regression, primarily due to systemic challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, no acceleration in progress was noted for eight indicators, and nine showed signs of slowdown, raising concerns about reaching the SDG targets by 2030. Environmental issues, particularly greenhouse gas emissions and protected areas, pose risks of irreversible tipping points. The authors highlight regional disparities, with some countries making progress in reducing child mortality rates, while others struggle. The authors stress the importance of a balanced, data-driven assessment that acknowledges both successes and setbacks. They call for leveraging technological breakthroughs and global cooperation to drive accelerated progress. While Kharas and McArthur offer a well-rounded analysis, additional geopolitical and economic factors could further hinder SDG progress. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened global economic inequalities, particularly in low-income countries, limiting their ability to invest in sustainable development. Geopolitical tensions, such as those between the U.S. and China, may also disrupt the multilateral cooperation needed to address key SDG targets like climate change and global health. Moreover, the unequal distribution of vaccines and financial aid during the pandemic exposed how political dynamics can slow global responses, leaving vulnerable countries behind in their SDG commitments. Economic challenges, including rising food and fuel costs and heavy debt burdens, may hinder progress on poverty, hunger, and health goals. Without strong financial incentives and international support, the transition to green energy may be too slow to meet climate-related SDG targets. These challenges require a more comprehensive approach to ensure that global governance, fair resource distribution, and debt relief empower struggling nations to meet their development goals. While technological advances and cooperation are vital, addressing geopolitical and economic barriers is equally important. Strengthening global governance and ensuring equitable access to resources are crucial for closing the gap on SDG progress and achieving the 2030 targets. #sustainability #sdgs #globalprogress #climatechange #economicinequality #geopolitics #greentransition #globalgovernance #2030goals Project Syndicate Homi Kharas John McArthur

WECAN International Women's Day 2024 Convergence:  Calls for Action to End the Era of Fossil Fuels and Accelerate a Just Transition Friday March 8, 2024 10:00am PT // 1:00pm ET // 6:00pm GMT Register here: https://lnkd.in/eim5z8Yd As part of an equitable fossil fuel phaseout and Just Transition, there must be significant and transformative policies and investments grounded in a climate justice framework that uplift care economies, community-led solutions, Indigenous rights, human rights, biodiversity protection, and a different vision than business as usual. We are advocating for a vision that ensures climate justice, and compliments thriving and healthy democracies that prioritize the well-being of people and planet above profit. During this Convergence on International Women's Day, we are bringing together global women leaders in all their diversity to share the many ways they are working and strategizing to build the solutions needed for an equitable and Just Transition— including food sovereignty, gender responsive climate policies, regenerative economics, forest protection, Indigenous rights, rights of nature, demilitarism, phasing out fossil fuels, and much more. The temperature is rising, and so are we!

This week combines two of my favourite things - climate and women's empowerment (and hopefully a cocktail or two 🍸). 💚 It's Green Week in Seoul so the agenda is packed with talks and events with clients looking at how we can accelerate systemic change. To kick the week off I am presenting to my daughter's class on Climate Action - everyone has a role to play, no matter how small. What climate action are you most proud of? 👭 On Friday, it's international women's day. Watch this space as I introduce you to some AMAZING women working in impact roles. For those who think this is no longer an issue, despite decades of progress and advocacy, the stark reality remains: women globally earn only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men! And shockingly, at the current rate of change, according to the World Economic Forum, it will take another 257 years to close this gap. That's something to continue talking about. Which women will you celebrate this week? #climateaction #equalopportunity #equity #greenbusiness #sustainability #women Margaret Dreyer Liz McAuliffe Sonia Breeze Laura Wiltshier Tamarin Schafer David Hill Dave Kennedy

Greetings, Changemakers! Time to ask a tough question: Why are only 17% of the SDGs on track? Let’s face it, this is a wake-up call. Only a fraction of the world’s most important goals are actually moving forward, and the clock is ticking. Here’s what’s holding us back: 1. Awareness Isn’t Reaching Everyone While global campaigns are happening, too many people still don’t know about the SDGs. If we don’t have the entire world on board—especially the underrepresented and marginalized—how can we expect real progress? Let’s think about how we can make SDG awareness universal, accessible, and truly impactful. 2. Stuck in the Past Our world is changing rapidly, but many systems are still trapped in outdated ways of thinking. From policies to economic structures, change is hard. But innovation happens when we step outside of the status quo. It’s time to push for forward-thinking solutions, especially through the voices of the youth who are ready to lead. 3. Economic Insecurity For millions, survival is the only goal, leaving no room for long-term thinking about sustainability or justice. We can’t expect people struggling financially to focus on climate change or inequality if they can’t meet their basic needs. Tackling economic insecurity is essential to making the SDGs a reality for everyone. 4. Politics—Friend or Foe? Political agendas are often at odds with the global unity needed to achieve SDGs. But what if the youth, with their shared sense of purpose, could break through the political divides? The power of youth in decision-making spaces could be the missing link to accelerate progress. 5. Exclusion is Holding Us Back If entire communities, genders, or marginalized groups are left out of the conversation, we’re missing essential perspectives that could drive change. Inclusivity isn’t just nice to have, it’s critical to the success of the SDGs. We need every voice in this conversation, not just the ones we’re used to hearing. This is just the beginning of the conversation. It’s time to ask ourselves: What are we doing to push the SDGs forward, and how can we make every action count? Let’s keep this dialogue going! Omondi Peter | Huseini Kamara | Tito Mwenda | Kristin Bodiford, Ph.D. | Marina-Roxana Corneliu | Najma Ilma #UNCSC2024 Photo sourced from Tito Mwenda #Club17 #Team16 #SustainableFuture #ActNow #GlobalGoals #OurCommonFuture