The beginning of this month, June, marked a significant milestone in global political leadership. Halla Tómasdóttir and Claudia Sheinbaum, two women and seasoned climate change advocates, were elected presidents of Iceland and Mexico, respectively. Their rise to power offers renewed hope for climate action in the face of the escalating environmental challenges and signals a triumph toward gender equality.
Iceland’s newly elected president, Halla Tómasdóttir, has led private sector efforts to offer innovative approaches to climate resilience as the executive director of the B Team, a global collective focused on addressing global challenges through corporate leadership. Before that, she was the first female CEO of the Iceland Chamber of Commerce and a member of the founding board of Reykjavík University. When I met Halla at a Climate meeting in Italy, I was amazed by her energy, her wisdom, her assertiveness, and deep knowledge of environmental and societal challenges with a great understanding of struggles faced by developing countries. Her presidency promises innovative approaches to climate resilience and sustainability at a time when Iceland, much like the rest of the world, is facing increased challenges.
Iceland has long been recognized as a global leader in gender equality, consistently ranking highly on global indexes. It was the first country in the world to democratically elect a woman as president. Since then, it has made significant strides in closing the gender pay gap, increasing female representation in politics and business, and supporting strong social programs for parental leave. However, despite its leadership in renewable energy, generating nearly 100% of its electricity from geothermal and hydropower sources, Iceland is acutely vulnerable to climate change. The country faces rapid glacial retreat and disruptions to its ecosystems – Iceland’s weather authority predicts that almost all the country’s glaciers may largely vanish in the next 100-200 years. This sobering forecast highlights the urgent need for robust climate policies.
The election in Mexico of Claudia Sheinbaum, a Nobel prize-winning expert on climate change, is another example of a crucial step forward for women on the global stage. As mayor of Mexico City, Sheinbaum oversaw a reduction of over 2 million tons of annual greenhouse gas emissions and the planting of over 40 million trees. As Mexico’s president, Sheinbaum will have to address increasing extreme weather events such as droughts and floods and the consequences they bring for food, water, and human security across the country. These events are closely linked to another important challenge –increasing violence against women and the everyday discrimination they suffer, including a persistent gender pay gap. Although Mexico has made efforts to close the gender gap, including through gender quotas for government positions, more work will need to be done to fully achieve gender equality.
The full and equal participation of women and girls in decision-making processes is essential for a sustainable and equitable future. Without gender equality, our efforts to combat climate change will fall short. Iceland’s leadership in gender equality and Mexico’s strides towards the same underscore the importance of female leadership in addressing global crises. The election of these two female presidents is a small victory in a world where women remain underrepresented in many leadership roles. Since 1945, only 13% of elected leaders of major multilateral organizations have been women, and currently, only 28 women serve as heads of state or government. The successes of Tómasdóttir and Sheinbaum highlight the transformative potential of female leadership in tackling both gender disparities and climate change.
However, challenges remain. The gender gap in political ambition persists, with men still twice as likely as women to run for office. Additionally, women in politics continue to face high levels of political violence and scrutiny over their personal lives. The elections of Tómasdóttir and Sheinbaum signal a promising shift towards more inclusive and effective climate leadership. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by climate change but are also vital change-makers in leading mitigation and adaptation efforts. Numerous studies have shown that increased female representation in national parliaments leads to the adoption of more stringent climate policies and lower emissions.
The presidencies of Sheinbaum and Tómasdóttir will not only break gender barriers but also bring expert knowledge and a passion for sustainability to the forefront of national and global efforts. As we celebrate these triumphs, we must continue to support and empower women in leadership roles, recognizing their crucial contributions to building a more equitable and sustainable world. This new era of female leadership in Iceland and Mexico offers a glimmer of hope in the global fight against climate change, demonstrating that with the right leaders, we can achieve meaningful progress towards a better future for all.
