Companies Urged to Integrate Gender and Climate Goals for Sustainable Future

In a recent article published on the World Bank Voices Blog, Nathalie Akon Gabala, Director of Gender and Economic Inclusion at IFC, and Emmanuel Nyirinkindi, Vice President of Cross-Cutting Solutions at IFC, emphasize the critical need for companies in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) to intertwine climate action with gender inclusivity.

They argue that companies benefit significantly from women’s leadership in driving robust climate strategies and adaptation measures.

Gabala and Nyirinkindi highlight findings that companies with higher female representation in senior roles are more likely to have formalized climate commitments. Despite this potential, several barriers persist, including inadequate training on the climate-gender nexus, organizational silos, and funding constraints.

Citing examples like Indonesia’s Bluebird Group and Brazil’s Neoenergia Elektro, the authors showcase companies already pioneering integrated approaches. Bluebird Group focuses on electric vehicle infrastructure while enhancing leadership diversity, whereas Neoenergia Elektro combines sustainability-linked financing with efforts to increase female participation in the electrical sector.

The authors stress the need for more companies to emulate such initiatives, especially as fewer than half of EMDE-based firms have committed to climate-related goals compared to their counterparts in developed economies.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) report, “Gender-Responsive Climate Governance and the Role of Women Leaders,” provides actionable insights for stakeholders to leverage women’s leadership for enhanced climate governance.

Gabala and Nyirinkindi conclude by urging companies to adopt a roadmap that integrates climate and gender goals, thereby fostering impactful climate action and advancing women’s empowerment in the corporate sector.