Despite women’s central importance to environmental management, they continue to face pay gaps, gender-based violence, and exclusion from entrepreneurship and leadership opportunities. In the realm of climate change, land grabbing, pollution, and climate displacement affect women disproportionately in uniquely difficult ways. Aiming to address this crucial overlap of women’s rights and climate rights, Profonanpe, a Peruvian environmental fund, is spearheading a variety of projects that incorporate women’s perspectives and local knowledge into adaptation responses and planning. Women are the backbone to Perú’s fishing industry which accounts for approximately 10% of all fish captured around the world. However, with fish stocks plummeting, the women responsible for processing and marketing catches are facing difficult circumstances and significant changes to their livelihoods. In response, Profonanpe launched projects that would not only utilize aquaponic plants to cultivate fish stocks, but also create activities, roles, jobs, and leadership opportunities exclusively for women. Since actively including women in strategies to adapt to and mitigate climate change, project leaders such as Claudia Godfrey have observed improved economic, political, and social mobility for women as well as generational effects in the community. Daughters are not only feeling inspired to become leaders but also have equitable access to resources and inclusive decision-making that can support their aspirations.
