Around the world, women and girls are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change. Women make up 80% of the population displaced by climate change and extreme weather, and existing gender inequalities amplify the risks women face.
It is also true that women are at the forefront of climate solutions — driving policy, leading community responses, and shaping the legal and scientific strategies that protect our planet. At the Environmental Defenders Office, this truth is woven into the fabric of who we are.
In the lead up to International Women’s Day this coming Sunday, we’re celebrating the role of women in progressing climate action and safeguarding nature. This year’s theme for IWD is ‘Rights. Justice. Action’.
Women leading the way at EDO
EDO is an organisation led by an exceptional group of women – from our CEO and Executive team, to our legal, science, and operational teams. And we’re proud to have been recently rated by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency as one of the top-performing legal firms prioritising gender equity. We are one of only four legal services with gender pay gaps that were either non-existent or well below the national average.
Women are both impacted — and driving the solutions
While climate change exacerbates challenges for women and girls, it also highlights their resilience and leadership. Across Australia and the world, women are driving clean energy transitions, they’re at the forefront of climate science, and are pushing for stronger environmental safeguards. They are negotiating international climate agreements, and are leading community groups that stand up to big polluters at the forefront of environmental litigation.
Every day, EDO has the privilege of supporting and working alongside some of these incredible women.
EDO’s role in delivering legal solutions
Our mission is to help our clients use the law to protect the environment, hold decision‑makers accountable, and secure a safe and sustainable future for all. Through strategic litigation, law reform, and providing expert legal and scientific support for communities, EDO works to ensure that the voices most affected by climate change have access to justice. Through the law, EDO empowers women driving climate justice.
Join us next week at Climate Action Week Sydney 2026
Next week in Sydney, we’re proud to highlight the leadership of women at EDO. Special Counsel Ruby Hamilton and Managing Lawyer Jess Border will be hosting a seminar on legal pathways to climate justice.
This is a chance to hear directly from our expert legal team, connect with like‑minded supporters, and learn more about climate litigation and how to engage effectively in decisions that affect our climate.
Date: Thursday March 12
Location: Dentons, Sydney, New South Wales
Time: 1-2pm
We invite you to join us, celebrate the women driving climate justice, and explore how law can empower communities and strengthen environmental protections for generations to come.
