The Most Overlooked Solution to Climate Change
Beyond Renewable Energy: How Women’s Empowerment and Education Are Crucial for Climate Action
By Simon Doble
Educating girls and empowering women are powerful yet overlooked solutions to combat climate change. Research from Project Drawdown ranks educating girls as one of the most effective ways to reduce carbon emissions, even surpassing renewable energy solutions. In this article, I explore why women’s empowerment, social entrepreneurship, and gender equality are crucial for climate action. Discover how family planning, leadership roles for women, and quality education create a ripple effect that benefits communities and the environment, transforming gender equality from a social cause into a cornerstone of sustainable development.
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One book that is always on my nightstand is Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming, edited by Paul Hawken. It features contributions from over 65 researchers, along with many other experts in climate science, sustainability, academia, and business.
I turn to it whenever I need inspiration and to learn about the next iteration of innovation for combating climate change. I cannot recommend it highly enough for anyone looking to contribute to solving what is arguably the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced.
What continues to surprise me is what ranks as the 6th most impactful solution—Educating Girls.
Following right after is another, closely related entry—Family Planning. To put this into context, some of the most talked-about activities come much later. For instance, rooftop solar panels come in at number 10, offshore wind turbines at 22, and electric vehicles at 36.
“By investing in the education and empowerment of women, we’re not just changing individual lives—we're setting off a ripple effect that can change the world.”
Female empowerment and ensuring they receive the recognition, responsibilities, and rights they deserve is, in my view, one of the most crucial challenges in addressing the issues we face today. It’s not just a solution; it’s a corrective action for one of the root causes of the current situation.
So, why is educating girls ranked so high on the list?
The Immediate Impact of Educating Girls
Research shows that educated women make decisions that positively impact their families, communities, and the environment. They are more likely to have smaller, healthier families, which reduces pressure on natural resources and lowers carbon emissions. Furthermore, educated women often run more successful businesses and adopt sustainable practices, such as using cleaner energy, managing waste effectively, and promoting biodiversity.
The unfortunate truth is that climate change disproportionately affects adolescent girls, as highlighted in this Brookings report. Ensuring that girls receive 12 years of quality education isn’t just a matter of fairness—it's a powerful climate solution.
The significance of educating girls is not supported just by Project Drawdown's research. The United Nations (UN) has consistently underscored the importance of gender equality in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For a concise overview, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) provides a useful summary, and this factsheet from UN WomenWatch offers additional insights.
Correlation between fertility and female education.
Women’s Empowerment Doesn’t Mean Leaving Boys Behind
Let me be clear—I am not suggesting that we educate only girls and leave boys behind. We need quality education for everyone. However, in many emerging and developing economies where we operate, boys already have a head start. Their societal and cultural positions are often elevated above those of girls.
Historically, this has been true in Western societies as well. It's only in recent decades that we have begun to realise that women and girls are far more valued than what we give them credit for. Yet, there is still significant work to be done in closing the gender pay gap and ensuring equal opportunities, particularly in STEM education.
Men often make short-term decisions focused on immediate gains, women tend to prioritise long-term decisions that benefit the broader community.
This historical inequality, rooted in colonial legacies and reinforced by religious and societal norms, has been passed down to developing countries that now need our full attention. We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes made in our own economies as we work to uplift these emerging regions.
Women in Leadership Make Better Decisions for Communities and the Environment
Educated women do not just make informed decisions at home; they can participate in decision-making at the community, business, and government levels. Research consistently shows that when women hold leadership roles, there is a stronger focus on community welfare, environmental conservation, and sustainable practices.
For instance, women in leadership positions in rural communities often advocate for preserving forests, managing water resources, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
The UNDP’s Gender, Climate Change, and Food Security report highlights that women’s empowerment in agricultural and environmental sectors leads to better resource management, which is crucial for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
This participation has a multiplier effect. By investing in the education and empowerment of women, we are not just changing individual lives—we are setting off a ripple effect that can change the world.
Empowering women and fixing this one-sided approach is our moral duty. And it starts with education.
These findings are most powerfully summarised in the 2023 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, which emphasises that ecosystem-based adaptations involving local communities and indigenous peoples—where women often play key roles—are critical to building resilience against climate impacts.
Moving Beyond the Battle of the Sexes
The research suggests something I deeply believe in—women are far more advanced in their ability to plan and deploy a nurturing environment for their community and their lives. While men often make short-term decisions focused on immediate gains, women tend to prioritise long-term decisions that benefit the broader community.
hese differing approaches aren’t inherently good or bad; each has its place. The problem arises from our systematic promotion of men—and their way of thinking—into leadership roles, while women have been consistently underrepresented and undervalued.
Empowering women and correcting this imbalance is not just a moral imperative; it’s essential for building a sustainable future. And it all begins with education.
Our Commitment
Women’s education and empowerment are the cornerstone and one of the most important benchmarks of what we do at Barefoot Citizens.
Our mission is to create conditions in developing economies that enable girls and women to pursue their education. Through our charity, SolarBuddy, we actively engage with women and children to help them overcome energy poverty, enabling them to study longer and improve their prospects.
Our Social STEM programs empower girls with essential skills, particularly in STEM fields, equipping them for the future.
At Barefoot Citizens, we are committed to providing women with meaningful employment, economic stability, and educational opportunities. Our projects adhere to the highest standards of social entrepreneurship, with a focus on uplifting girls and women from marginalised communities.
Leading by example amplifies our impact. Our board is composed of 60–70% women and the majority of our employee base is made up of women. We believe that this diversity strengthens our decision-making and reinforces our mission, supporting our decision-making towards empowering girls and women around the world.
Have a look at all of our social enterprises at: www.barefootcitizens.com/our-social-enterprises
And check out what SolarBuddy does at: www.solarbuddy.org
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If you want to support our mission of educating and empowering women, or want to kickstart your own journey, reach out to me here or at barefootcitizens.com/contact-barefoot-citizens.
Simon