Welcome! I actually got the idea for this blog post just a couple of days ago when I received an email from the Malala Fund, which champions and invests in girls' right to education. If you have not heard the incredible story of Malala Yousafzai, I have written a synopsis of her story and accomplishments in this blog post.
While I read her email, she wrote something which struck me - "read up on the links between girls’ education and climate change." I had never researched this connection or even heard about this supposed link. However, as I started to delve deeper into this association, I started to learn more about some of the reasons why girls are pulled out of school and actions we can take to counteract both crises. Resultingly, I knew I had to write a post about it. While researching, I delved deeper into this direct relationship between climate change affecting the ability of girls to receive an education as well as the impact that educated girls can have in the fight to prevent climate change.
"In low- and middle-income countries, persisting gender discrimination and harmful gender norms mean adolescent girls living in poverty are often the most vulnerable to the least visible impacts of climate change" - Christina Kwuak from Brookings
First, I wanted to start with how climate change in certain regions can hinder girls from going to school. Naomi Nyamweya is a research officer for the Malala Fund and provided her findings in an interview. She detailed how different climate events apply pressure on families and often lead to neglect of education, particularly for girls. Furthermore, girls in lower-income families are often the most affected because of decreased access to schools. Nyamweya describes how climate events such as floods and earthquakes can disrupt communities and damage schools. In lower-income areas where there is also a lack of school funds, schools can be closed for extended periods of time. Additionally, without universal access to technology, Wi-Fi, and virtual classrooms, girls are unable to receive an education.
Another result of climate events can be "early or forced child marriage" (Kwuak). Nyamweya explains that in times of drought, access to water and food can severely decrease while its prices drastically increase. This can lead to families marrying off girls "in exchange for livestock to support the family, or so that the family can have one less mouth to feed" (Nyamweya). This happened in Ethiopia during the 2010-2011 drought. Once girls are forced into a marriage, they not only lose their childhood and opportunity for education and a better life, but they lose their autonomy and independence. The responsibilities of girls and wives do not allow them to get a complete 12-year education, which could have improved their lives and even the planet.
"Estimates suggest that together with family planning, girls’ education has the potential of avoiding nearly 85 gigatons of carbon emissions by 2050" - Christina Kwuak from Brookings
Education is vital. You've probably heard the importance of education many times and had someone reinforce its significance when you crib about the extra homework your teacher gave you. I know I have. Because most people in first-world countries take education for granted, it is difficult to understand the full impact of an education. Take a look at the data in the quote above from Christina Kwuak. Just from educating girls, we can make drastic strides towards a cleaner and greener future. 85 GIGAtons. That is an incredible number.
"When you equip girls with holistic skills ... then they are able to think about climate change from the root of the issue, they themselves are able to bring up solutions and push policymakers to implement solutions" - Naomi Nyamweya
Undoubtedly, a clear connection between girls education and climate change revolves around the sure fact that the more we educate girls about the crisis, the more leaders will be created and policies that will be changed. Teaching girls STEM subjects will foster creative and innovative ideas and solutions to tackle climate change. Furthermore, when we educate girls in the regions that are most impacted by climate change, we can learn so much more about the challenges those communities face and the most effective way to counteract them. From Greta Thunberg to Licypriya Kangujam to Xiye Bastida, young women are at the forefront of the climate movement, leading the charge for new climate policies and forcing policymakers and politicians to reckon with this crisis.
By ensuring that girls have access to 12 years of education, regardless of income or background, we can make strides in solving the climate crisis. Girls are the leaders of tomorrow, solving the problems of today... as long as they have the knowledge to tap into their potential.
If you would like to read more from these sources I quoted, click on the links below.