Interlinkage Between Women And Environment : Pathways To Sustainable Development

Abstract

The interlinkage between women and the environment represents a reciprocal relationship that is critical to advancing sustainable development. Environmental challenges- including climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, and resource depletion- disproportionately impact women due to gendered divisions of labor, socio-economic inequalities, and unequal access to resources. At the same time, women are central actors in fostering ecological resilience through sustainable land use, biodiversity conservation, renewable energy adoption, and community-based environmental stewardship. Drawing on ecofeminist perspectives, this article examines the gender- environment interlinkage as both a site of vulnerability and a pathway for transformation. It illustrates that women-led initiatives contribute to afforestation, sustainable agriculture, and the protection of terrestrial ecosystems thereby advancing SDG15 (Life on Land) alongside other environment-related goals. Moreover, women's participation in decision-making enhances climate adaptation strategies, supports equitable resource management, and strengthens community resilience. Despite these contributions, policy blind spots, intersectional inequalities, and limited institutional support continue to constrain women's transformative potential. The article argues that integrating gender-sensitive policies, inclusive governance structures, and capacity-building measures is essential for aligning gender equality (SDG 5) with environmental goals, including clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), climate action (SDG 13), and life on land (SDG 15). By reframing women not as passive victims but as empowered agents of change, societies can unlock synergies between gender justice and ecological sustainability. The study concludes that embedding women's empowerment into environmental governance is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic pathway toward achieving a just, resilient, and sustainable future.