She Leads: COP30 Youth Declaration
This group of young climate change activists are committed to addressing the urgent challenges posed to girls and young women by climate change at COP30.
Gender and climate change
Climate change is the defining crisis of our time and it’s hitting girls hardest. From floods and droughts to rising food insecurity, the climate emergency is deepening inequalities and stripping away choices. When families face impossible decisions, girls are often the first to suffer.
But girls aren’t backing down. Across the globe, they are raising their voices, leading climate action and demanding change. We stand beside them because when girls lead, communities rise and progress for all becomes possible.
How climate change affects girls
Climate change amplifies existing inequalities and puts girls and their futures at greater risk.
- Education under threat: When disasters strike, girls are often the first pulled from school. Today, 129 million girls are out of school globally, and climate shocks make this worse by destroying classrooms and forcing families to prioritise survival.
- Child marriage and exploitation: Economic stress caused by droughts, floods and crop failures pushes families into harmful coping strategies. Every year, 12 million girls are married before 18, and climate-related crises increase this risk.
- Displacement and danger: Climate disasters displace millions, and around 80% of those displaced are women and girls. Displacement heightens exposure to violence, trafficking and loss of access to health services.
- Health and safety compromised: Extreme weather disrupts access to clean water, food and healthcare. Girls face increased risks of malnutrition, early pregnancy and gender-based violence in crisis settings.
- Voices silenced in decision-making: Despite being disproportionately affected, girls are rarely included in climate policy decisions. Yet when girls lead, solutions are smarter, fairer and more sustainable.
Climate change is a justice issue. It’s about power, equity and survival. That’s why we champion climate action that puts girls’ leadership at the centre of resilience and recovery.
Teresa supports girls to adapt to climate change
Teresa has a plan to help girls adapt to climate change and reduce youth poverty in Timor-Leste.
Our response: Building resilience and equality
Plan International is committed to the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organisations, embedding climate resilience and gender justice across all our work. Here’s how we’re driving change:
- Education in emergencies: Safe school initiatives in Asia-Pacific and West Africa are helping girls stay in school during floods and storms, with disaster management training reaching thousands of teachers and students.
- Anticipatory action: We’re investing in early warning systems and locally led preparedness, reaching over 975,000 people in 18 countries with anticipatory responses to floods and cyclones.
- Nature-based solutions: From coastal restoration in Indonesia to youth-led climate advocacy in Bangladesh, we’re promoting solutions that restore ecosystems while empowering girls and promoting equality.
- Youth-centred climate leadership: Through programmes like the Youth Leadership Academy and SheLeads Climate Cohort, girls are shaping climate policy and leading community resilience projects.
- Amplifying female voices: Boosting women’s participation in global climate forums, promoting investment in girls and young people’s leadership and research to identify gaps in adaptation and resilience policy.
Why girls’ leadership matters
Girls are not just participants in climate solutions — they are powerful drivers of change. Climate action led by girls leads to smarter, fairer outcomes. That’s why we champion approaches that:
- Shift power to women and girls in environmental governance.
- Integrate economic empowerment and land rights into climate programmes.
- Recognise adolescent girls’ unique knowledge and leadership potential.
Esther tackles climate injustice
Esther from Sierra Leone shares her story of resilience in the face of climate change.
Our global impact
In 2024–25, we responded to 73 emergencies, including child protection, food security and nutrition programmes, reaching 12.2 million people with humanitarian assistance. We co-led advocacy at global UN climate negotiations, calling for a new $1.3 trillion climate finance goal and climate policies that support girls in crisis. Across more than 50 countries, we’re partnering with local organisations to deliver climate-smart education, livelihoods and disaster preparedness.
The stakes couldn’t be higher
Climate change is accelerating and gains on girls’ rights that took decades to secure are under threat. But together, we can change this trajectory. By centring girls in climate action, we don’t just protect their futures, we create a ripple effect that strengthens families, communities and economies.
Stand with us to tear down barriers, save lives and build a world where equality for girls leads to progress for all.
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