Power in Her Hands: Cultivating Equity and Climate Solutions in the Global South | CW4CJ 2025

Climate change is intensifying social and economic inequities worldwide, with women in the Global South, particularly in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), rural communities, and Indigenous territories, bearing a disproportionate share of climate‑related risks. 

Yet these same women design and lead some of the most innovative, community‑rooted solutions, from youth empowerment programs to regenerative agriculture initiatives.

Despite growing recognition, women’s leadership remains under‑resourced and under‑represented in policy, finance, and decision‑making arenas. This panel elevates women’s agency and knowledge systems at the center of climate action, proposing that cultivating equity is inseparable from cultivating effective solutions.

Women are powerful agents of change, with the capacity to drive innovative, and lead inclusive, and community-engaged climate solutions. Addressing the climate crisis requires more than symbolic inclusion; we need women in senior positions across governments, businesses, industries, and communities who are prepared to lead boldly and equitably.

To truly transform systems, we must challenge narrow perceptions of women’s leadership and ensure that women in power are supported, resourced, and empowered to advocate for themselves and others. 

Panelist Profiles

1. Renee Atwell - Attorney-at-Law, Youth Advocate, and Founder of Girls of Impact, a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering young women in Trinidad and Tobago through mentorship, leadership development, and community engagement. Her work focuses on advancing equity, access to justice, and sustainable development, particularly for marginalized communities in the Global South. 
   
   
   
2. Dr. Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie - environmental scientist and advocate dedicated to safeguarding Jamaica's natural heritage with over a decade of experience, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) which is a not-for-profit, environmental NGO whose mission is to protect Jamaica’s natural resources through their law and advocacy, conservation and environmental education programmes. 
   
   
   
3. Jacintha Realine - Wapichan Women’s Representative, She is from Aishalton village, located in the Wapichan Territory of the South Rupununi, Guyana, has worked with the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) as its Cultural Heritage Coordinator, interviewing elders to document the Wapichan culture and was part of a core set of youths who lobbied the SRDC to organize the first ever Wapichan Youth Conference. Her work focuses on Indigenous women’s empowerment, land and resource management.
   
   
   
4. Steffy Heera - Chief Customer Officer at Renewable Power Caribbean Limited, over 18 years of cross-disciplinary expertise, with insights into the intersection of land use, food security, and energy production, leveraging her Human Resource Management experience for the human capacity element of the renewable energy transition, ensuring inclusivity and skill development. 

Moderator - 

Marion Atieno Osieyo is a storyteller and advisor working at the intersection of nature, culture and human flourishing. Her work supports inner and social transformational approaches to Earth care with the aim of helping humanity reconcile our relationship with Mother Earth. She is the founder and host of Black Earth, an award-winning podcast and community exploring how black women are restoring ecosystems, communities, and harmonious ways of being in relationship with the rest of nature.

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