Women powering the climate action: Pacific Islands lead the way

Women powering the climate action: Pacific Islands lead the way | Photo: Austin Neill

In the Pacific Island nation of Fiji, the vibrant city of Suva is emerging as a beacon of sustainable development, where local leadership is weaving together climate action (SDG 13) and gender equality (SDG 5) to address pressing global challenges. These community-driven efforts, highlighted by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in July 2025, exemplify how small island communities are adapting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to their unique contexts.

By tackling the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and fostering inclusive solutions, Pacific Island communities are demonstrating resilience and ingenuity.

Addressing these intertwined issues is critical not only for local prosperity but also for advancing global sustainability, as the SDGs aim to ensure peace, prosperity, and environmental protection by 2030.

The intersection of climate change and gender inequality

Pacific Island nations, despite contributing less than 0.03% of global greenhouse gas emissions, face severe climate impacts, including rising sea levels, extreme weather, and ocean acidification. These environmental challenges exacerbate existing social and economic inequalities, particularly for women and girls, who constitute 50.5% of the region’s population yet often lack equal access to resources, decision-making, and economic opportunities.

Women in Pacific communities frequently bear the burden of unpaid care work, limiting their ability to adapt to climate-induced disruptions like floods or droughts. For instance, a 2023 UN Women report noted that women in rural Pacific areas spend up to 20 hours per week on unpaid domestic tasks, compared to 10 hours for men, constraining their capacity to engage in climate-resilient livelihoods.

The synergy between SDG 13 (climate action) and SDG 5 (gender equality) is evident in these communities. Climate change amplifies gender disparities, as women are more likely to face displacement or loss of income due to natural disasters. A 2024 UNESCAP report revealed that 60% of Pacific Island women rely on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture and fisheries, compared to 45% of men, making them more vulnerable to environmental shifts.

Conversely, empowering women through education, leadership, and access to resources strengthens community resilience. The integration of these goals is not just strategic but essential for sustainable development.

Suva’s innovative approach to SDG localisation

In Suva, local leaders are pioneering SDG localisation, tailoring global goals to address specific community needs. One standout initiative involves women-led projects promoting sustainable transport, such as the introduction of electric buses. These buses reduce carbon emissions, aligning with SDG 13’s call for urgent climate action, while improving access to education and healthcare for women and girls, advancing SDG 5. For example, a 2025 pilot programme in Suva reported a 15% increase in women’s access to vocational training centres due to improved transport options, directly linking mobility to economic empowerment. Such initiatives reflect a broader trend in Pacific Island nations, where communities are crafting solutions that address both environmental and social challenges simultaneously.

These efforts are not without precedent. The Pacific Partnerships to Strengthen Gender, Climate Change Responses, and Sustainable Development (PPGCCSD), launched in 2014, has fostered collaboration among women’s groups, youth, and disability advocates across 12 Pacific countries. This initiative, supported by organisations like UN Women and the Pacific Youth Council, has driven policies that integrate gender equality into climate resilience strategies, such as disaster risk reduction training tailored for women. In Fiji alone, over 5,000 women have participated in such programmes since 2020, equipping them with skills to mitigate climate risks.

Challenges in scaling grassroots resilience

Despite these successes, scaling such initiatives remains a formidable challenge. Pacific Island nations face a funding gap estimated at $4 trillion annually to achieve the SDGs, with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) particularly constrained by limited resources and technical expertise. The 2025 Asia-Pacific SDG Partnership Report underscores that progress on SDG 13 has regressed in the region, with only 4 of 97 measured SDG targets showing significant advancement. The lack of gender-disaggregated data further complicates efforts to track progress on SDG 5, as only 40% of indicators related to gender-based violence and women’s economic empowerment are consistently reported in the Pacific.

Moreover, the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters, evidenced by the 1.6 million disaster-related deaths globally from 1990 to 2015, demands robust international support. Developed nations have pledged $100 billion annually through 2025 to support climate action in developing countries, yet disbursements remain inconsistent. The Green Climate Fund, a key mechanism for climate financing, had mobilised only $10.3 billion by 2016, highlighting the gap between commitments and delivery. Pacific communities, with their innovative approaches, require sustained financial and technical assistance to amplify their impact.

The Pacific Island model of SDG localisation offers a compelling narrative of hope amid global inaction. While the 2030 Agenda’s ambitious targets seem increasingly elusive, only 17% of SDG targets are on track globally, Suva’s example demonstrates that grassroots ingenuity can drive meaningful change. By integrating climate resilience with gender empowerment, Pacific communities are not only addressing immediate needs but also setting a precedent for sustainable development worldwide.

To build on this momentum, international stakeholders must prioritise funding and capacity-building for SIDS. Organisations like UNESCAP and UN Women offer valuable resources, such as the Asia-Pacific SDG Gateway (https://sdgasiapacific.net) and UN Women’s climate action initiatives (https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/climate-action), which provide data and strategies to support these efforts. Policymakers, civil society, and the private sector should collaborate to bridge the funding gap and enhance technical expertise, ensuring that initiatives like Suva’s electric bus programme can scale across the region.

For those eager to learn more, the United Nations’ SDG website (https://sdgs.un.org) and UNESCAP’s regional hub (https://www.unescap.org) offer comprehensive insights into global and regional efforts to achieve the SDGs. By supporting and amplifying Pacific Island innovations, the global community can move closer to a future where sustainability and equity are not just aspirations but realities.