Across the Commonwealth, the effects of climate change are becoming impossible to ignore. Communities are facing more frequent floods, storms, wildfires, and other environmental challenges that threaten lives and livelihoods. Women and girls are among those most affected, facing interruptions to education, difficulties accessing healthcare, and fewer opportunities to earn an income. Yet their voices remain underrepresented in decisions about how communities respond to and prepare for these challenges.

In this World Environment Day video, Frances Ferreira, Senior Adviser: Women and Girls, COL, highlights the importance of ensuring that women and girls are not only included in climate action but empowered to lead it. Through the Empowering Women and Girls (EWG) project, implemented with the generous support of Global Affairs Canada, COL and its partners are helping women and girls build practical skills, strengthen leadership, and drive climate resilience in their communities. 

Featuring voices from partner organisations in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Mozambique, the video showcases how women and girls are advancing climate action through environmental education, disaster preparedness, and climate-smart agriculture. Their experiences demonstrate that when women and girls are empowered to act, entire communities become more resilient.