As we honour Earth Month in April which focuses on raising awareness around environmentalism and deforestation, and Earth Day on April 22, we acknowledge the role of women and feminist movements in the fight for climate justice.
The climate crisis is deeply intertwined with colonialism, capitalism, and systemic oppression, disproportionately impacting women from marginalised communities in majority world contexts. Yet, these women are leading transformative feminist movements that challenge mainstream sustainability narratives and offer intersectional solutions rooted in justice, liberation, and decolonisation.
Intersectionality and feminist leadership
“You cannot have a single-issue movement because we do not live single-issue lives. The fight for the environment is the fight for justice, for dignity, and for liberation.”
–Vandana Shiva, an ecofeminist, scholar, and environmental activist
Women in marginalised communities have been at the forefront of environmental justice movements. Vandana Shiva, an Indian ecofeminist and activist, asserts that the fight for the earth is inseparable from the fight against colonialism and capitalism. Her work in promoting food sovereignty and regenerative farming practices demonstrates how environmental justice is also social justice. Similarly, feminist movements across the Global South have long recognised the intersectionality of gender oppression with race, class, and ecological degradation.
In Sudan, women have played pivotal roles in resisting militarisation and advocating for gender equity during political upheavals. Their activism challenges patriarchal systems and also emphasises the need for sustainable governance that prioritises social and environmental well-being.
Decolonising sustainability
Mainstream sustainability often focuses on individual consumer choices, such as using metal straws or buying eco-friendly products, while ignoring systemic injustices. Corporates have co-opted the language of environmentalism with their greenwashing marketing campaigns that claim environmental responsibility while they continue exploitation practices.
Feminist movements expose these hypocrisies and advocate for decolonised approaches to sustainability. For example, Indigenous women across Latin America have led efforts to protect biodiversity and resist extractive industries that threaten their lands. In Brazil, women from quilombola (Afro-descendant) communities have fought against deforestation and land dispossession while preserving traditional ecological knowledge. These movements highlight how true sustainability requires restoring land rights and dismantling systems of exploitation.
Feminist movements as agents of change
Feminist movements are redefining environmental activism by centring collective action and solidarity over individualistic approaches. The DAWN network (Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era), a feminist South-South initiative, exemplifies this ethos by addressing global economic inequalities alongside ecological crises. Their work challenges neoliberal development models and advocates for redistributive policies that prioritise marginalised communities.
In India, grassroots feminist organisations champion climate reparations as part of their broader advocacy for gender equity. These groups emphasise how colonial histories of resource extraction continue to shape contemporary environmental injustices. By demanding accountability from corporations and governments, they are reshaping global conversations on sustainability.
The fight for Earth is inseparable from the fight for liberation. Feminist movements remind us that real sustainability is not about buying more “green” products, but about dismantling exploitative systems. It means supporting Indigenous-led climate solutions, advocating for land sovereignty, and holding corporations accountable for environmental harm.
As we face an escalating climate crises, we must centre these voices and their actions in our narratives. Let us raise the profile of these movements and build a future where people and the planet thrive.
Have you read any of these books?
Written by Indigenous authors and people of colour, these works challenge dominant sustainability frameworks and also highlight the vital role of community-led sustainability and Indigenous wisdom in creating true change.
This piece was written for the April 2025 edition of Postscripts, Shamillah Wilson’s monthly round-up of what’s been happening in feminist circles, her work, and some recommended reading suggestions.
