How are women represented in sustainability conversations?

Too often, women are framed in narrow and limiting roles within sustainability conversations. In the Global South, they’re often portrayed as victims of climate change, while in the Global North, they’re positioned as ethical consumers, expected to bear the burden of “sustainable choices” through green products, diets, and lifestyles.

As Professor Seema Arora-Jonsson points out, this pattern is deeply embedded in climate policies, consulting reports, and brand messaging—and it’s holding us back.

🚨 This narrative is outdated and reductive.

We believe that impact is not a solo journey. It happens when we exchange ideas, support one another, and challenge the norm—together.

Women are more than consumers and case studies

Women are not just reacting to climate change—they’re driving real, tangible impact:

✅ Leading climate resilience efforts at the grassroots level.
✅ Building purpose-driven businesses that challenge the status quo.
✅ Shaping policies and solutions for a more just and sustainable future.

Yet, their contributions are often reduced to a footnote in an SDG report, a statistic in a financial statement, or worse—just another “lived experience” case study rather than recognized as experts and leaders in their own right.

Why this matters:

This oversimplification strips women of agency and reinforces gender inequalities and north-south biases, keeping them from fully shaping the sustainability narrative on their own terms.

📢 The solution? Women telling their own stories.

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Visibility = Power

As Jude Kelly CBE, founder of The WOW Foundation, says: “Telling stories isn’t just about visibility—it’s about power.”

Historically, when men talk about impact, it’s seen as universal. When women share their stories, it’s often framed as something niche or “just about women.” That needs to change.

Stories shape how we see the world and who we believe can drive change.

Celebrating women who make an impact

👋 We’re LEF! A platform putting the spotlight on women making real change—whether or not they have public profiles. We celebrate their successes in climate resilience, inclusion, and sustainability leadership. Curious? Click here to read more.

💡 Know a woman whose work deserves recognition? Send us a message so we can share her story and help shift the narrative. 👇💚