Everyone loves a good TED Talk, here’s one of our favorites:
Educating and empowering women and girls is one of the most important things we can do to confront carbon pollution and could result in a reduction of 80 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions says Omani scientist, activist, and athlete Rumaithat Al Busaidi in her compelling TED Talk.
Most people think of technological or political solutions to climate change but the way our societies are structured, who has power and who does not, can have a profound effect on our actions.
In 2020, women made up 40 percent of the global workforce, but in the Middle East that percentage falls to about 25 percent. In the Gulf countries these figures are much lower even though women make up half the population. Part of the reason is cultural perceptions of women’s roles in society and part is outright discrimination, often enshrined in law that keeps women from senior positions.
Al Busaidi says that “access to education, employment, and family planning will help women lead more productive, vibrant lives not only for themselves but for their families and their communities. Women who are educated and employed earn more money, achieve career goals, and face fewer health issues.” And, when facing the effects from climate change, they become more resilient and better equipped.
Women are the ones most at risk when it comes to environmental catastrophes. The UN reports that 80 percent of people displaced by climate change are women. Under threat of frequent cyclones hitting Oman, Al Busaidi says women are more are risk “because they are left to take care of the elderly and children, they don’t know how to swim, or because they never had the opportunity to learn skills like building a shelter, making a fire, or administering basic first aid.”
To help train and shape women as leaders, Al Busaidi founded WomeX. Its mission is to combat climate change through leadership training in a local context. By educating more women on resiliency and leadership skills, WomeX aspires to empower a million women to control their own lives and careers, giving them a platform to contribute to the collective effort to combat climate change.
In conclusion, Al Busaidi says empowering women is the solution to the crisis facing our planet.