Look at Greta Thunberg. What started as one young woman’s solitary protest in front of the Swedish Parliament grew into a global movement that mobilized millions of people and pushed governments — including the one I was part of — to take stronger climate action.
Reflecting on COP21, it’s clear that women played a pivotal role in the success of the Paris Agreement. The women I met in Paris weren’t just there to participate — they were leading, negotiating, and shaping the course of those critical discussions at every level. Their leadership was integral to the deal we struck.
I also saw the power of women firsthand again in 2018 when I hosted the “Women Kicking it on Climate Summit” as Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Women from around the world came together to ensure that the Paris Agreement’s goals were met and to push for ambitious solutions. The energy in that room was electric. The connection we made helped move the global climate agenda forward reinforcing that women’s leadership is not just important, it’s essential.
After leaving politics, I founded Women Leading on Climate, a global network of women leaders committed to driving climate action. In 2024, with the We Mean Business Coalition, we launched a global network at Climate Week in New York. Our event was a resounding success. We set a clear agenda: to demand global leaders triple renewable energy, phase out fossil fuels and develop new, bold climate plans. Leading climate champions, including Laurence Tubiana from France, Patriciaa Espinosa from Mexico and Jennifer Morgan from Germany, delivered powerful messages about the urgency of collective action. Ana Tono from Brazil spoke about the leadership of Brazilian women on climate and announced the formation of a local network ahead of CO30 in Brazil.
One of our victories came when women leaders, led by Maria Mendiluce, CEO of the We Mean Business Coalition, successfully called out the Azerbaijani government for excluding women from the COP29 organizing committee. It was absurd, given that women make up half the population and are at the forefront of advocating for more ambitious climate action. Following our push, women were appointed. It was a small but important victory.
At COP29, we presented an advocacy letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, signed by women leaders from business, politics and civil society, urging bolder climate action and committing to support his efforts. We also launched the #WomenLeadingonClimate social media campaign, reaching 14.6 million people led by voices from leaders such as Vanessa Nakate, Sophia Kianni, Arizona Muse, and Tori Tsui. This campaign empowered women around the world to share their stories, call for more ambitious climate leadership, and demand policies that prioritize climate justice.
Women Leading on Climate will continue to grow and push for bold and transformative change. At a time when many countries are backtracking on climate commitments, women’s leadership is more crucial than ever.
This article was adapted from Run Like A Girl: A Memoir of Ambition, Resilience and Fighting for Change. Copyright 2025 Catherine McKenna. Reprinted by permission of Sutherland House Books.
Catherine McKenna is the CEO of Women Leading on Climate. She is former Minister of the Environment and Climate Change (2015-2019) and former Minister of Infrastructure and Communities (2019-2021). After leaving politics, McKenna founded the Climate and Nature Solutions advisory firm, became a visiting fellow at Columbia University, and served as the chair of the United National High-Level Expert Group on the Net-Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities.
Article reprinted with Permission as part of GreenMoney’s ongoing collaboration with Climate and Capital Media.