Feminist movements are driving climate action, bringing critical perspectives and building initiatives to advance climate justice at the local, national, regional, and international levels. As governments and philanthropic actors step up their ambition on climate finance, there is increasing recognition of the role of local women’s rights organisations in climate action, including on adaptation and mitigation as well as in addressing the root causes of the crisis. Despite this, organisations led by women, girls, trans and intersex people are still dramatically underfunded.
The urgency and severity of the climate crisis, and its disproportionate impact on women, girls, trans and intersex people in the Global South, calls upon donors to go beyond the status quo. Funding feminist movements with accessible and dedicated resources is a key yet underutilised approach in delivering on ambitious policy goals on climate justice, gender equality and sustainable development.
The good news is that the infrastructure to fund these actors exists. Women’s funds around the world are already supporting and channelling resources to the feminist movements implementing robust, transformative and sustainable climate action globally.
Mama Cash and Equality Fund’s new brief – Funding our Future: Resourcing the feminist movements driving climate action – sets out the case for funding feminist movements and organisations through climate finance and highlights women’s funds as a mechanism to realise this strategy. It includes a set of tangible actions for government donors to realise their commitments to advancing climate justice and gender equality, and ensuring funding reaches the local level.