Sustainability | Stats

When women shape water policies and programs alongside men, communities use water services more effectively and sustain them for longer. Mainstreaming Gender in Water Management, UNDP, 2006.

One recent study found that forest patches managed by women had 51% less deforestation than those managed by men. 5 Reasons to Support Women in Conservation, World Wildlife Foundation, 2024.

Women hold 54% of Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) positions in the U.S., nearly doubling from 28% in 2011. Why we need more Women Leaders in Sustainable Development, ecoSKILLS, 2025.

In 2025, 63% of executive sustainability roles in big companies worldwide are held by women, a significant jump from 17% in 2015. The rise of female-led sustainability initiatives, climate tech startups, and corporate ESG leadership proves that women drive change at every level. Plasticks, 2025.

In a review of 17 studies from around the world, the presence of women in conservation and natural resource management resulted in stricter and more sustainable extraction rules, greater compliance, more transparency and accountability, and better conflict resolution.

Women lead 60% of global environmental organizations. European Investment Bank, 2024.

Improving support for female farmers could add $1 trillion to global GDP.The Guardian, 2024.

"The concept of female empowerment has been recognized by the UN as a necessary step toward sustainability." Missie Thurston, VP of Global Marketing, Population Media Center, 2023

Research in India indicates that areas with women-led councils saw a 62% higher number of drinking water projects compared to areas led by men. UN Women, 2024.

A recent study has found that empowering women can help prevent underweight and wasting in children. The study suggests that empowering women can lead to improved child well-being. Alliance Bioversity CIAT, 2024.

“When women have the tools to succeed, they reinvest in their families and communities, creating a multiplier effect that promotes wellbeing, prosperity, and stability.” Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman at the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate Summit and Ministerial, 2023.

When we include women in the conversation, we enrich our understanding of resources. —Nature Conservancy, 2023.

In 2021, Costa Rica was awarded the Earth Shot prize for its conservation model, in which local citizens are paid to preserve and restore natural ecosystems. The success can be attributed largely to the commitment of its citizens and the involvement of indigenous and rural women in climate adapta...

Mothers are often said to be the most sustainable people on earth. From managing leftover food and household waste to recycling clothes, women are the leaders of running a sustainable lifestyle. — Economic Times

"It is impossible to address climate change without women and people of colour [sic] and that’s why they need to be at the table, making decisions." Mindy Lubber, CEO + President of Ceres, a UN Environment Programme + a Barron’s Magazine 100 most influential women in US Finance

Because women possess unique knowledge and experience, particularly at the local level, their inclusion in decision-making processes is critical to effective climate action. — UN Women, 2022

Over the last few decades, 55% of the improvement in food security in developing countries has been driven by programmes [sic] promoting women’s empowerment. —United Nations Human Rights Office of The High Commissioner, 2022

Women are more interested in sustainability than men…71% of women in Britain are increasing their commitment to ethical living while only 59% of men in Britain have been trying to live more ethically. Even in environment-friendly activities, like recycling or trying to use less water, it still a...