Exploring the Role of Women in Sustainability

Women are not just participating in sustainability – they are helping to define it. Yet the latest evidence shows they still face serious barriers, from climate vulnerability to underrepresentation in the rooms where decisions are made.

Women are on the front lines of the climate crisis. The United Nations says women and children are 14 times more likely to die than men in extreme weather disasters, and that an estimated four in five people displaced by climate impacts are women and girls. 

At the same time, women remain vital to climate solutions: the UN notes they produce half of the world’s food, and up to 80% in developing countries, while also driving sustainable farming, reforestation and community resilience.

In business, the picture is improving. A 2025 industry report said women hold 63% of sustainability executive roles in big companies, up from 17% in 2015, even though women still account for only 29% of executive roles overall. 

The UN also reports that women now make up 40% of employees in solar energy, compared with 22% in oil and gas, showing that the clean energy transition is creating new pathways for talent and leadership.

But progress is uneven. UN Women reported that only 28% of ministers of environment were women in 2024, down from 32% in 2023. That gap matters because women’s leadership is linked to stronger climate policy, better environmental reporting and more investment in renewables and energy efficiency.

For sustainability leaders, the message is clear: gender equality is not a side issue. It is a condition for faster, fairer climate action.

London Climate Action Week

London Climate Action Week is one of the biggest climate gatherings in Europe, bringing together businesses, policymakers, campaigners and communities across London to accelerate practical climate action. 

Founded in 2019 by E3G in partnership with the Mayor of London, it has grown into a citywide platform for collaboration on net zero, resilience, climate finance and a just transition.

It offers a view into how London is positioning itself as a global hub for climate leadership showcasing how local action, innovation and finance can connect with international climate goals.

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Sustainability LIVE @ London Climate Action Week?

Debuting at CodeNode London, Sustainability LIVE @ London Climate Action Week – The Leadership Summit is a one-day event uniting senior sustainability leaders driving climate action and transformation. 

Bringing together more than 250 in-person attendees in association with PMI, the summit delivers the knowledge, connections and solutions needed to accelerate progress toward net zero and respond to an increasingly complex sustainability landscape shaped by regulation, innovation and global policy change.

The programme features 25 expert speakers and four interactive executive workshops, offering actionable insights and strategic frameworks for embedding climate action across every aspect of business – from operations and supply chains to investment and reporting. Participants will gain practical direction on advancing ESG performance, meeting new disclosure standards and redefining their net zero strategies to ensure resilience and long-term impact.

Whether you’re leading sustainability transformation, preparing for upcoming regulations or evolving your organisation’s decarbonisation roadmap, Sustainability LIVE @ London Climate Action Week – The Leadership Summit is where executive leadership, collaboration and innovation converge to drive meaningful climate action.

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Spotlighting women in sustainability

Women are at the forefront of corporate sustainability and climate action, shaping strategies that drive meaningful environmental progress. 

In the Women in Sustainability session, Dr Márcia Balisciano, Chief Sustainability Officer at RELX, will be joined by other leading women in sustainability to discuss how female leadership is redefining the path to a more resilient future. 

Together, they will explore the growing influence of women across industries in steering environmental strategy, driving organisational transformation and fostering inclusive leadership cultures that promote collaboration, innovation and impact at scale.

Register your interest