H. Patricia Hynes, a former environmental engineer and now-professor of environmental health, argues in this piece, published by Truthdig, that we cannot achieve sustainability goals without simultaneously guaranteeing the rights of women and girls worldwide. Hynes examines several climate and natural disasters, including Hurricane Katrina in the United States and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, to demonstrate how women and girls become primary victims of climate change and argues the need for elevating the rights of women to avoid this phenomena. She presents in the piece several proven women-centered practices that elevate and empower women and mitigate impacts of climate change. Photo credit: Adam Jones
