IUCN President and Director General’s Statement on International Women’s Day 2025

On 8 March, International Women’s Day, we celebrate the extraordinary contributions of women in shaping a sustainable, resilient, and equitable future for all. Women and girls are at the forefront of conservation, climate action, and community resilience, driving change and innovation that benefit both people and planet. When women lead, ecosystems thrive, communities prosper, and global goals become attainable.

Around the world, women and girls are leading conservation and adaptation efforts – yet all too often their leadership goes unrecognised and their voices unheard. At IUCN we are committed to breaking these barriers by fostering gender-responsive policies; championing equitable conservation initiatives; and ensuring that all people, regardless of gender, have a seat at the table in shaping a nature-positive future. We stand with women-led environmental solutions to create a truly inclusive planet.

This year, as the world reflects on progress toward gender equality at the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, we must also recognize where we are falling short. New IUCN research analysing over 200 gender-responsive environmental and climate projects reveals both challenges and opportunities. The data is clear: The projects that elevated women’s leadership and roles in environmental action demonstrate why these efforts matter. Among the 40% of projects that measured the impact of women’s contributions to environmental results, 86% reported tangible improvements in both environmental and gender equality outcomes. This is the power of inclusion.

Yet, too often, women continue to face systemic barriers – such as increased labour burdens, reduced decision-making power, and heightened risks of gender-based violence – that undermine their ability to drive lasting environmental change. If we are to truly accelerate positive action for people and planet, we must recognize and address these inequalities. We need to better measure the environmental and social impacts of gender in projects in order to achieve a just world that values and conserves nature.

At IUCN, we know that gender equality is not just an aspiration – it is a necessity for achieving global biodiversity and climate goals. Today, and every day, we stand with women environmental leaders, grassroots activists, and Indigenous knowledge holders who are driving solutions for a more just and sustainable future. Together let’s ensure that gender equality remains at the heart of our work, empowering women to lead the way in protecting nature for generations to come.

Turning commitment into action

At IUCN, we know that data drives action. We also know that the lack of clear evidence on how gender mainstreaming impacts environmental outcomes remains a global challenge. That’s why we’re leading the way – strengthening gender indicators, tackling gender-based violence as a barrier to conservation, supporting local champions through grants, and elevating Indigenous women and girls across generations. Together with our Members, Commissions, and partners we are turning knowledge into impact for a more just and sustainable world, where women are heard and empowered.

As we head toward the IUCN World Conservation Congress this October in Abu Dhabi, we celebrate the power of our Union in advancing gender equality across every landscape – because progress for women is progress for the planet.