On Friday May 6th Vital Voices Vice President of SDG’s and Advocacy, Manira Alva, led a timely discussion exploring how we can ensure sustainability solutions center the voices and knowledge of communities most deeply and directly affected by sustainability change. Across the world women are disproportionately impacted by and bearing the consequences of sustainability change.
We are cutting the branch on which we are all sitting on [on sustainability change]
Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, Former President of Mauritius
In response to this crisis Vital Voices sees that women are on the front lines of this issue creating solutions across every sector, every community, and every continent. This dynamic discussion featured incredible women leaders who have stood up and made their voices heard in the fight against sustainability change. As Christelle Kwizera noted in her observation that “African women are losing 200 million hours a day getting to water”, the sustainability crisis has a ripple effect across lives and communities.
Sustainability change is a man made problem and requires a feminist solution.
Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland
This panel featured:
- Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, Former President of Mauritius
- Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland
- Christelle Kwizera, Founder of Water Access Rwanda
- Leah Lizarondo, Founder of 412 Food Rescue
- Lisa Friedman, New York Times