Bold Steps, Bright Future: Women in Climate
Exploring how women are shaping a more equitable, sustainable future. 💚
Hey there Climate Northerners 🌿
Spring is officially here — even if Toronto’s weather hasn’t quite gotten the memo yet.
Regardless, we still have a little spring in our step after our knock-out event last week, Bold Steps, Bright Future: Women in Climate, in celebration of International Women’s Day.
We were delighted that this was our fastest sell-out event to date! We hosted the event in collaboration with Carbon Removal Canada and Animal Liberation Kitchen at Industrious in Toronto.
Our goal with this event was to spotlight both the challenges and opportunities that women face in the climate sector. We brought together experienced leaders and experts including: Michelle Li, Zamani Ra, and Tyler Hamilton to share their perspectives on where we stand with women’s inclusion—and, most importantly, to equip our guests with practical skills and actionable insights.
🎤From Insights to Action: What We Learned from the Women in Climate Panel
We chose a panel format to foster an open, conversational space where leaders could share their experiences and insights. By creating a dialogue rather than a lecture, we aimed to explore the complexities of women’s inclusion in climate work and encourage thoughtful, practical takeaways. Climate North’s Sarah Clayton guided the conversation with thoughtful questions and reflections, helping to draw out the most impactful stories and strategies from our speakers.
🔥 “It’s Only 1.5 Degrees Hotter” – Said No One Sweating It
Changes in climate are increasing in visibility, leading to climate anxiety and the importance of community action. Studies show that women often experience the impacts of climate change to a greater degree, bearing disproportionate social and economic burdens. In various parts of the world, it has been documented that “women depend more on, yet have less access to, natural resources (Source).”
Panelists shared their experiences witnessing the devastating effects of extreme weather, particularly how it impacted their communities and individual livelihoods in areas like agriculture and the Arctic. Hearing these accounts, along with considering the implications for future generations, emphasized the urgent need for more sustainable solutions.
🌱 Inclusive Climate Action: Why Every Voice Matters
We’ve heard it time and time again: diverse voices spark new perspectives and drive innovation—yet women, in particular, are too often left out of the conversation. When those most affected by climate change don’t see themselves represented, it limits the range of ideas and solutions brought to the table.
Supporting women’s inclusion in the climate space requires a collective, sustained effort rooted in proven strategies. Renowned experts agree that empowering women to see themselves as part of the solution starts with creating opportunities for meaningful involvement and demonstrating that all jobs can contribute to climate action. It also means intentionally increasing representation from underrepresented communities, fostering a sense of belonging and leadership. Progress doesn’t happen overnight—but by committing to inclusive practices and amplifying diverse voices, we can make impactful, lasting change.
Zamani and CEED (Circular Environmental Education and Design) is doing just that - creating a future where marginalized communities drive systemic change, climate action and economic empowerment. CEED works to co-design climate action and environmental education workshops for highly diverse, low-income, multi-unit residential buildings and housing cooperative communities.
🚀 Breaking Barriers: Women in Cleantech
Despite the rapid growth of climate-related sectors, such as ‘Cleantech’, there remains a noticeable lack of female representation among founders.
During the event, speakers reflected on the challenges women face in securing investment within a male-dominated funding landscape. A recurring observation was that men often “overpromise and under-deliver,” while women tend to do the opposite—understating their potential despite strong results.
We learned about several impactful initiatives and programs, across both the public and private sector, that are specifically focused on breaking down barriers and tackling these challenges. Powered by MaRS (a North American Innovation Hub), the RBC Women in Cleantech Accelerator, is focusing on empowering women to break into cleantech and inspiring the next generation of female founders through networking, mentorship, capital, visibility. It was pointed out by Tyler, that as of today, 5 out of 6 women-led startups from the accelerator are thriving.
👩🏼🤝👩🏿 Why Representation in Climate Leadership Matters
As Michelle Li mentioned during the panel, we’re seeing action and change on an international scale in a push for more gender equity in board representation. Countries such as Norway, Iceland, France, Italy, and the Netherlands have established board membership representation requirements to ensure diverse perspectives at decision-making tables.
Why does board representation matter? Boards serve shareholder value, and having diverse perspectives leads to stronger, more balanced decision-making. And while progress is happening, the panel did highlight a concern that often the same few women keep getting called to the table to contribute.
Women in Climate has created a global database of 1,200+ women experts. This tool enables connection making it easier to connect with fresh voices and new perspectives for speaker panels, and beyond.
At its core, connection and community are key. By building networks, opening doors, and supporting one another, we can amplify women’s voices in climate leadership—and that benefits everyone.
✨WHAT CAN WE DO NOW?
✅ Look Around—Is Your Table a Little Too… Same-Same? – Diversity leads to fresh perspectives, and innovation. Ensure more diverse voices are seated at the table.
✅ Talk About It! – Start conversations in your community about how they can be part of the solution. The Women in Climate Slack Channel is a great resource!
✅ Fix the Funding Struggle – Great climate ideas need cash. The problem? Access to funding can prove challenging. Let’s push for more accelerator programs and better investment and less “please attach 500 supporting documents” grant applications.
✅ Make Climate Action More Accessible – By bridging the gap between marginalized communities and climate action, learn more about how CEED is making an impact in the community.
✅ Donate Smarter – Check out opportunities such as MaRS’ Carbon Removal Donation Program, a tax-deductible opportunity to provide catalytic support to Canada’s emerging CDR market - win-win!
✅ Uplift Women-Led Innovation – Programs like the RBC Women in Cleantech Accelerator are boosting women in climate—learn more about the women led organizations making a difference - let’s hype them up, through supporting and highlighting these women owned businesses to those in our networks
✅ Act Locally, Think Globally – Small changes add up. Women in leadership, activism, and innovation make decisions that benefit entire societies.
📸 A SNAPSHOT OF THE NIGHT
Our highly requested photo album of the night can be found here. Major thanks to Varun for capturing the beauty of the night.
"I’ve heard from two separate people whom I respect a lot that I NEED to attend Climate North’s events….and I see why." - Raina Halabi 💚
🤝 UPCOMING EVENTS & EXCLUSIVE OFFERS
🎟️Sign up for Climate North’s Earth Day Event on April 22nd - tickets are selling out fast!!
We’ve also got you covered with some diverse events from friends of Climate North happening this April:
⭐️Arcadia Earth is Toronto’s most unique immersive experience– a multi-sensory journey through planet Earth. Use Promo Code: NORTH15 for discount of 15% off Regular Tickets, code valid until June 30, 2025.
⭐️ Talk Climate to Me is hosting a fun, free, virtual, climate learning experience for women and allies! When: April 7th, running three different time blocks from Monday, Tuesday, and Weekends. Registration is free - sign up here.
⭐️LumeSmart Earth Day 2025 Celebrate 10 years of sustainable impact and network with cleantech innovators, discover groundbreaking green technologies, and gain insights from industry leaders driving climate action. When: April 15. Sign up with discount link here (for discount of 25% off Regular Tickets).
⭐️Nucleate Canada, a global student-led non-profit biotech accelerator with $500M+ raised for its alumni companies, in partnership with BioZone is hosting an environmental biotech event. When: April 25. Registration is free - sign up here.
⭐️ Climate Comedy Show this Earth month Gaurav Dhama and Erin Andrews are bringing together their 2 passions - Climate and Comedy - to present a one of its kind Climate Comedy Show! When: April 25. Use code “North” for exclusive 15% OFF. Buy tickets here.
⭐️The Conscious Coffee Party is all about building community around sustainable living one cup at a time. Meet new people, learn a little about low-waste, plant-based living, do some dancing, and enjoy vegan eats from local vendors. When: April 26. Sign up here!
🫵 YOUR TURN
Grow the Climate North Community! 🌏💚
Know someone passionate about climate action? Share this newsletter with them and invite them to our next event!
Get your tickets now for: Earth Day 2025: Dirt Rich – Growing Profit & Planet through Regeneration on April 22nd!
Let’s keep building momentum together!
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Written by Kathryn Weber.
The Climate North Team
Chloe D'Agostini, Rebeka (Becky) Romanovsky, Fab Barrillot, Sarah Clayton, Julian Cheah