Seven Environmental Leaders to Watch in the Face of the Climate Crisis

From the Philippines to Kenya, meet World Pulse women crafting sustainable solutions and mobilizing for a greener future.

Amid our planet’s escalating climate emergency — marked by devastating floods, wildfires, heat waves, cyclones, and droughts worldwide — the imperative for action is urgent. A recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns of a potential 1.5-degree Celsius rise in temperature within a decade, heightening the gravity of the climate crisis.

In the face of these dire circumstances, changemakers from the Philippines to Kenya are responding to the impacts of climate change with innovative solutions. Here are their stories of resilience and determination for a sustainable future.

In India, she’s addressing the intersection of climate justice and sexual and gender-based violence through education.

Rasika Sundaram, founder of the Imaara Survivor Support Foundation, witnessed how climate change disproportionately affected vulnerable communities and exacerbated the risks of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Through the Butterfly Hug Program, Rasika is helping communities adapt to climate change, reduce SGBV risks, and promote gender equality by distributing educational handbooks to community stakeholders. “Addressing climate change is not only about reducing emissions but also about addressing the root causes of vulnerability, such as poverty, inequality, and inadequate access to healthcare and education,” she says.

This engineer and climate activist in Cameroon is bridging gaps in gender equality, hunger, and sustainability.

As the founder and coordinator of Hand in Hand Cameroon, Achiri Constance Amboh addresses pressing issues such as gender-based violence, hunger, and environmental sustainability. “The only way we can save our environment is through creating participatory opportunities and campaigns for women and youths to engage in clean environments, tree planting and developing green businesses that can help reduce waste from the environment,” Achiri says. Through targeted educational programs, her organization has equipped 510 women and girls in 22 communities in Cameroon with practical skills that foster self-sufficiency and teach waste recycling while championing green farming practices that alleviate hunger and poverty and preserve the environment.

In the Philippines, she’s mobilizing her community to restore the Leyte Sab-a Peatland and sharing her vision for sustainable development.

A social development worker and founder of Women Enablers Advocates & Volunteers for Empowering and Responsive Solutions, Paulina Nayra Lawsin’s work and advocacy revolve around empowering girls, women’s political and economic empowerment, environmental protection, and sustainable evolution. Today, she leads Project Eden, mobilizing women in Leyte Sab-a Peatland Forest to become active nurturers of the peatland, which plays a crucial role in climate regulation, biodiversity preservation, and flood risk reduction. Paulina’s initiative seeks to create peatland-friendly products, providing jobs and income to families. “When we protect the peatlands, we save lives and cool the world,” Paulina says.

This Kenyan entrepreneur and technologist harnesses cutting-edge technology to create sustainable solutions for a greener planet.

As founder and CEO of WedgeTechFlash.com, Marion Cindy imagines a future where technology and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. She spearheads the Green Tech Revolution initiative, tackling issues like electronic waste, energy consumption, and pollution head-on by recycling and repurposing technology. The initiative offers workshops, tree-planting events, and educational programs to support individuals and communities with the knowledge and tools to make environmentally conscious choices. “By implementing eco-friendly practices and innovations, we can collectively reduce carbon footprints, conserve resources, and pave the way for a healthier environment,” Cindy says.

This activist and eco-friendly enthusiast inspires environmental consciousness in Pakistan through sustainable habits for a sustainable future.

Anum Shakeel, a World Pulse Digital Ambassador, worked with Global Shapers Community (GSC) — Karachi Hub on the “Our Trash, Our Responsibility” campaign in Karachi, advocating for responsible waste management. The campaign inspired countless community members to join the movement through speaker sessions at universities, podcasts, media appearances, and field visits. “We are optimistic that our campaign will transform attitudes and habits, making environmentally conscious choices a way of life,” Anum says. Outside of the campaign work, Anum plants trees in her community, organizes cleaning drives, opts for energy-efficient appliances, reduces plastic waste, and recycles her clothing.

This bamboo advocate in the Philippines is reshaping construction norms and championing bamboo as a cornerstone for sustainable development.

With 14 years of experience in environmental advocacy, Aidalyn Arabe recognizes bamboo as a powerful tool to help communities generate a livelihood, contribute to the local economy, and help the planet. “There’s a growing movement to champion bamboo as a durable, sustainable, versatile, beautiful, and natural material for construction use,” Aidalyn says. Through her organization, Moutara Green Initiative, Aidalyn offers a bamboo consultancy with services such as nursery development, harvesting, and advocating for bamboo as a primary construction material.

In Kenya’s urban informal settlements, this social innovator champions climate-resilient childcare.

Wamweru Muthara is tackling the impact of climate change on women-led childcare enterprises in Nairobi’s informal settlements. Facing rising food prices due to drought, women child-care providers have struggled to maintain childcare enterprises, forcing many to shut down while others incur debts. To address the dire situation, Wamweru is leading an innovative women-led solution that organizes local female food traders to provide affordable and nutritious meals to children in childcare facilities. “…As we act on climate change for [our children’s] sake, we must not forget that women, the backbone of society’s care systems, bear the burden of it all. Our climate change actions must begin and end with women,” she says.

The time is now to champion change in our communities and be stewards of a planet in desperate need. Tell us what climate justice means to you. We invite you to head to WorldPulse.org to connect with these climate changemakers and hundreds of other women who are speaking out for change. You can even share your own stories, ideas, and solutions for crafting sustainable solutions and mobilizing for a greener future.