Women Leading on Climate: Global Network Expands as Calls for Bold Action Intensify

Empowering women in climate action has become one of the most effective levers for change, according to Catherine McKenna, the former Canadian environment minister. After a decade of work on climate policy, she says women are more likely to demand government action, use their voices to advocate for change, and engage civically. Data and case studies show that companies with more women in leadership roles are more likely to disclose emissions and pursue decisive climate action. Women lead in government, business, and civil society, driving progress at every level. Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate has said, “The most powerful force against climate change is a woman.”

McKenna notes that the Paris Agreement negotiations demonstrated how women's leadership can shape outcomes. The deal benefited from women leaders' willingness to negotiate, push for ambition, and insist on climate justice. In 2018, she hosted the Women Kicking It on Climate Summit in Canada, bringing together women from around the world to advance Paris goals and pursue ambitious solutions. The energy and cross-border connections created at the event helped move the global climate agenda forward and underscored that women's leadership is essential, not merely symbolic.

McKenna later founded Women Leading on Climate, a global network of women leaders committed to driving climate action. In 2024, partnering with the We Mean Business Coalition, the network launched a global presence at Climate Week in New York, with the agenda to triple renewable energy deployment, phase out fossil fuels, and pursue bold climate plans. Prominent leaders—Laurence Tubiana, Patricia Espinosa, and Jennifer Morgan—delivered messages about urgency and collective effort, while Ana Toni of Brazil announced the formation of a local network ahead of COP30 in Brazil.

At COP29 last year, women leaders led by Maria Mendiluce of the We Mean Business Coalition called out the Azerbaijani government for excluding women from COP29's organizing committee. The push helped secure appointments and reinforced that gender representation matters in climate diplomacy. Earlier, an advocacy letter to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, signed by women leaders from business, politics, and civil society, urged bolder action and pledged ongoing support for his efforts. The #WomenLeadingonClimate social-media campaign, led by Nakate, Sophia Kianni, Arizona Muse, and Tori Tsui, reached about 14.6 million people and amplified stories of climate justice.

Today, the network counts more than 500 members with chapters in Canada, the European Union, Australia, and Brazil, and it plans further expansion to deepen regional networks and convert advocacy into practical action on emissions, resilience, and adaptation. Observers say the momentum is especially important as governments and CEOs face a climate policy landscape where progress is uneven and some commitments are being rolled back. The message from women leaders is clear: climate action must be fast, fair, and inclusive.

Looking ahead to COP30 in Brazil, advocates say women's leadership will be a decisive factor in turning words into action. They caution against “green hushing” — where leaders avoid naming climate change publicly — and argue that sustained advocacy is essential to keep climate ambition visible and enforceable. The network intends to continue growing, sharing best practices, and supporting bold policies that deliver real emissions reductions and climate justice.

Adapted from Run Like a Girl: A Memoir of Ambition, Resilience and Fighting for Change. Copyright © 2025 Catherine McKenna. Reprinted by permission of Sutherland House Books.