Razan al Mubarak for POLITICO: “The Best Way to Celebrate Women is to Nurture them as Leaders” 

Politico

To mark International Women’s Day 2023, IUCN’s first female president from the Arab world Razan Al Mubarak penned an op-ed for POLITICO calling for women’s voices to be heard, included, and celebrated.

In the op-ed, Ms. Al Mubarak highlights the diverse range of experiences that women around the world face as they deal with the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss:

This morning, on International Women’s Day, women all around the world woke up – and went about their lives, business as usual. A mother in China started a long day of work as a farmer; she is the primary provider for her family. A young girl in Kenya departed on a trek – more than half an hour walk away from home – to fetch wood which will serve as fuel for her family. A mother in Miami leaves for school a little earlier, driving her kids through unfamiliar roads since their usual route has flooded. An Arhuaco matriarch in Colombia gathered the ever-dwindling supply of plant medicines that will help her take care of her people. A woman in Turkey, who recently lost everything, has begun the difficult process of rebuilding with the help of her remaining friends and family.

Ms. Al Mubarak also recognizes the fundamental role of women in their communities, and makes a call to nurture women as leaders at the highest level:

These women are a central part of their communities, and the backbone of their families. They are the key decision makers about food, fuel, child rearing – including education, health, and family planning – and land, household, and resource management. They also, unfortunately, constitute the majority of the world’s poor – and they’re most impacted by the twin threats of climate change and loss of nature. But in the highest level of representation – where their leadership is most needed – their voices are largely absent. Today – and every day – the best way to celebrate women is not only to include and elevate their voices, but to nurture them as leaders. The future of our planet depends on it. 

Read the full op-ed by Razan Al Mubarak on POLITICO — and Happy International Women’s Day!

A Message from Razan Al Mubarak on International Women’s Day 2023

International Women's Day

Dear friends and dear colleagues,

I wanted to take this opportunity — on International Women’s Day — to say a few words about the importance of representation. Today – and every day – the best way to celebrate women is not only to include and elevate their voices, but to nurture them as leaders.

We all know that women are a central part of their communities, and the backbone of their families. They are mothers, sisters, daughters, and they are also key decision makers about food, land, and resource management. 

Women also, unfortunately, constitute the majority of the world’s poor and most vulnerable, and they’re most impacted by the twin threats of climate change and biodiversity loss. But in representation, from community organizations to the highest of international offices, where their leadership is most needed, women’s voices are largely absent.

It would be easy, on a day like this, to pay lip service to nurturing female leaders. But we do need and want to do more than that. We need equal representation. We need to be sure the policies and solutions that we promote are not only co-created by women but also do not inherently exclude them.

As the first woman from the Arab world to head the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and now, the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, I am determined to leave a blueprint for those who will follow.

Biodiversity loss and climate change affect all of us, all of us need to bring awareness, all of us need to advocate, all of us need to be heard.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Happy International Women’s Day!

— Razan Al Mubarak

At One Forest Summit, Razan Al Mubarak highlights the role of forests in fighting climate change and biodiversity loss

One Forest Summit

“This is the decade in which we must reverse biodiversity loss, slash emissions, address resilience, advance equity, and we must do this all simultaneously,” asserted Razan Al Mubarak, speaking at the sixth-annual One Forest Summit today.

Protection of tropical rainforests took center stage at the two-day conference, attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba, and other officials and environment ministers from around the world. The group converged in Libreville, Gabon, to discuss the future of rainforests in the Congo basin, Southeast Asia and the Amazon basin.

Ms. Al Mubarak said that forests are a powerful tool in the fight against biodiversity loss and climate change, stating:

“We recognize the irreplaceable value of forests for nature, for people, for economy, for common humanity, but also as a prime solution to address climate change. We also recognize that there is no Paris Agreement without protecting, without restoring, without sustaining and managing nature.”

She also highlighted the importance of integrating indigenous peoples and youth in the fight to conserve nature, adding that the needs and concerns of developing countries need to be heard and addressed.

Turning the conversation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in November, Ms. Al Mubarak, who also serves as UN Climate Change High-Level Champion, reaffirmed her commitment to adopting “pragmatic solutions” to address biodiversity loss and climate change.

“At COP28 we are putting nature and inclusivity at the heart of our agenda. COP28 will be a COP of action, and it will be a COP where the global south will be front and center.”

Watch Razan Al Mubarak’s remarks at One Forest Summit here.