Empowering women in sustainability: a new study’s insights

The Women’s Platform for Sustainability, Environment, and Renewable Energy is actively engaged in enhancing the role of women in the sustainability sector, following its establishment in 2015 by Masdar and the Zayed Sustainability Prize. With a clear focus on encouraging female leadership and participation, the platform aligns with the UAE leadership’s commitment to empowering women and providing them with the necessary skills and opportunities for entrepreneurship.

The platform operates on three foundational pillars: education, communication, and empowerment. Its key initiatives, including the “Leaders” and “Wiser Kers” programmes, are designed to equip women with mentoring and leadership skills, enabling them to showcase their capabilities effectively. A recent research study published by the platform, entitled “Stimulating the Development of a Global Sustainability Economy,” aims to further these goals by promoting women entrepreneurs and enhancing their roles in global climate action.

Dr. Lamya Nuwaf Fawaz, the Executive Director of the Corporate Identity and Strategic Initiatives Department at Masdar and the Director of the Women’s Platform, spoke to Al-Ittihad about the significance of the research study. She stated, “We at the Women’s Platform for Sustainability, Environment, and Renewable Energy are committed to supporting global trends for empowering women through this research study, which calls on policymakers, investors, and sector leaders from around the world to take bold and tangible steps toward promoting entrepreneurship.” Dr. Fawaz further emphasised the need to “overcome barriers and bridge the gap in available funding opportunities for both genders” in order to foster a more sustainable and equitable future.

The study draws attention to the crucial contribution of women entrepreneurs in developing economic solutions, particularly in addressing the gender gap in financing, business development, artificial intelligence, inclusion, mentoring, and access to resources. This focus is especially relevant for women in the Global South, who often face unique challenges in these areas.

The insights from this research were developed during the annual meeting of the Women’s Platform for Sustainability, Environment, and Renewable Energy, which took place in conjunction with Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2025. Leaders and a diverse group of experts from various sectors participated to discuss and highlight the impactful role of women entrepreneurs in advancing the global sustainability agenda.

In total, the study outlines five key recommendations aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs to take a leading role in climate action. These include promoting gender-sensitive investments through increased funding programmes, fostering financial literacy for climate-driven initiatives, simplifying policies and procedures to broaden women’s participation in climate projects, enhancing infrastructure and partnerships for scaling solutions, and utilising artificial intelligence and digital tools to support business development and market access.

Additionally, the study encourages the promotion of mentorship and collaborative programmes across sectors to provide women with vital resources, pushing for solutions to legal and financial barriers that can hinder their success. It advocates for investments in women’s education, especially in fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), recognising that improved access to markets and resources is essential for fostering female entrepreneurship in sustainability.

Source: Noah Wire Services