Why Women Will Save the Planet

Cities across the globe are growing fast. Today many cities are simply unsustainable, with polluted air, excessive energy consumption and an absence of nature. But big cities don't have to mean a dystopian future. They can be turned around to be powerhouses of wellbeing and environmental sustainability – if we empower women. C40 Cities – a global network of the largest and greenest cities across the planet – is leading the world delivering practical environmental changes right now. The mayors and city leaders of C40 are committed to make cities good for people and the planet. To help realise this, they have launched Women4Climate, an initiative to promote and support women as climate leaders.

Why Women Will Save the Planet is a unique collaboration between C40 and Friends of the Earth showcasing pioneering city mayors, key voices in the environmental and feminist movements, and academics. The articles and interviews collectively demonstrate both the need for women's empowerment for climate action and the powerful change it can bring. Think of it as a rallying call – for the planet, for women, for everyone.

Foreword by Anne Hidalgo
Introduction by Nicola Baird

1. The Power of Stubborn Optimism - Christiana Figueres
2. Empowering Women to Power up the Paris Agreement on Climate Change - Patricia Espinosa
3. The Hissing of Summer Lawns: Cities, Gender, and Climate Change - Susan Buckingham
4. What's Happening in Durban: From `Tree-Preneurs' to Trendsetters - Zandile Gumede
5. Women's Empowerment and Environmental Sustainability in the Context of International UN agreements - Diane Elson
6. Walking the Talk: Empowering Tomorrow's Women Leaders - Alexandra Palt
7. How Holistic Thinking Benefits People and Planet - Lola Young
8. How Gender-Sensitive are National Adaptation Programmes of Action? Selected Findings from a Desk Review of Thirty-One Sub-Saharan African Countries - Nathalie Holvoet and Liesbeth Inberg
9. Why Educating Girls is Essential for a Sustainable Future - Atti Worku
10. Women, Conflict and the Environment in Somali Society - Shukri Haji Ismail Bandare and Fatima Jibrell
11. The Close Ties between Social and Environmental Justice - Karin Nansen
12. Engendering Urban Climate Policy - Gotelind Alber
13. Why do Gender Equality and Sustainability Go Hand in Hand? - Lyla Mehta and Melissa Leach
14. The Benefits of using a Gender Lens - Naoko Ishii
15. Is there a Specific Role for Women in Helping to Achieve Environmental Sustainability through Politics? - Caroline Lucas
16. Empowering a Balanced and Useful Economics of Sustainability: The Role of Gender - Julie A. Nelson
17. Hand in Hand: Women's Empowerment and Sustainability - Vandana Shiva
18. How the Defence of the Commons and Territories has become a Core Part of Feminist, Anti-Capitalist Struggles - Celia Alldridge
19. Mother Earth - Maria Mies
20. From Icebergs to Climate Refugees - Jude Kelly
21. From Individual to Communal Rights: Empowering Women for Sustainable Use of Natural Resources - Nidhi Tandon
22. The Role of Fashion in Bringing About Social and Ecological Change - Anna Fitzpatrick
23. Family Planning: A Win-Win for Women and Sustainability - Carina Hirsch
24. The Power of Grassroots Action for Women's Empowerment and the Environment - Kate Metcalf and colleagues
25. One Hundred Years of Collective Action for Environmental Change - Marylyn Haines Evans
26. The Impact of Gender Balance in the Renewable Energy Sector - Juliet Davenport
27. More Women in Business for a Sustainable Economy - Emma Howard Boyd