Eco newsletter, Sept 2026, Issue 18 – Women and Climate Change
Women and Climate Change
Editorial
Photo by Rohit Dey on Unsplash
As our world faces an escalating climate crisis, the connection between environmental breakdown and gender equality becomes increasingly more apparent. Over the years, it has become clear that climate change is not a gender-neutral issue: it poses unequal, distinct threats to the safety, livelihoods, and daily lives of women and girls globally. Yet, despite this, across the world, we find women stepping forward as powerful examples of climate resilience.
Our first article highlights grassroots training initiatives led by Brahma Kumaris’ representatives in rural India. It also features their wider international engagement, including involvement in the Women Faith and Climate Network and a proposed partnership with the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA). These initiatives underline how effective climate action is rooted in empathy, inclusivity and collaboration.
Next we highlight a Climate Wisdom Studio episode, from COP 29 in Baku, in which we meet women leaders Shreya Ghodawat and Maryam Majidova, who are in conversation with Maureen Goodman and Sonja Ohlsson from the Brahma Kumaris. They emphasise the importance of women having an equal seat at the decision-making table as they bring hands-on solutions and leadership with a healing energy.
This edition also features a video from the BBC World Service 100 Women series which examines the role, influence and achievements of women across the world. In this episode, they highlight the real life stories of women dealing courageously with a variety of climate challenges, in order to safeguard their communities' futures.
Our final article, from the UN Women website, explores how gender equality is key to global climate action, and how we must support solutions for women, by women.
Cultivating this level of climate resilience requires a deep inner strength. Grounded in "sacred activism" and acting from a place of values, love and spiritual power we witness how women are redefining leadership. As we deal with the challenges ahead, it is crucial that women's voices are increasingly heard and included at the core of global climate governance and local action.
If you have any comments or feedback you can get in touch with us via eco@uk.brahmakumaris.org
Editorial team
Empowering Women and Climate Resilience
Photo by amol sonar on Unsplash
Since its beginnings, in the 1930s, in India, the Brahma Kumaris have been fostering and leading the way in women’s empowerment and gender equality, at all levels of society. Today, in India, the Rural Wing of the Brahma Kumaris, specifically works to empower women in rural villages on how to be more climate resilient.
To read more, click here: https://eco.brahmakumaris.org/empowering-women-and-climate-resilience/
Climate Change and Gender Equality
Left to right: Sonja Ohlsson, Maureen Goodman, Maryam Majidova and Shreya Ghodawat.
At COP (Baku) in 2024, an inspiring conversation, organised by the Brahma Kumaris, brought four women together to discuss the importance of women’s voices having an equal standing in decision-making. Sonja Ohlsson, Focal Point UNFCCC representative for the Brahma Kumaris spoke with Maureen Goodman, Programme Dir., Brahma Kumaris, UK; Maryam Majidova, Co-founder and Executive Director of Gender HUB Azerbaijan; Shreya Ghodawat, Sustainability and climate activist, and the India Ambassador for Project Dandelion and SHE Changes Climate.
To read more Click here: https://eco.brahmakumaris.org/climate-change-and-gender-equality/
The Women at the Forefront of the Climate Battle
Screenshot from video via BBC World Service
This BBC 100 Women video shows how many women, all over the world, are leading grassroots efforts in coastal areas so as to offset the devastating effects of climate change. Often these women are working against impossible odds to safeguard a future for themselves, their families and communities. Source: BBC World Service
To watch this video click here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN1WWwQkFE8
How Gender Inequality and Climate Change are Interconnected
Image by Lesbains39 from Pixabay
“The climate crisis is one of the most pressing issues of our times. It threatens to reverse progress on human rights and sustainable development and worsens gender inequality – posing specific risks to the ways of life, livelihoods, health, safety and security for all women and girls around the world.”
To continue reading this article on UN Women click here:
Meditation
Screenshot from Video via Brahma Kumaris
This meditation was created as part of the global initiative to emerge Shakti - feminine spiritual power.
To listen to the meditation, click here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sHHCPYyybo
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