WOMEN LEADERS FOR PLANETARY HEALTH

AN INTERVIEW WITH NICOLE DE PAULA

Given the complex nature of the pandemic, the movement towards a greener, more sustainable recovery needs a multi-faceted approach. Dr. Nicole de Paula started the Women Leaders for Planetary Health (WLPH) with these important goals at the forefront, “bridging the gaps between health and environmental sectors through gender-just solutions”. Having launched at the UN Climate Summit in December 2019, WLPH aims to “develop women’s leadership in the evolving field of Planetary Health, improve women’s health, and safeguard a clean environment to leave no one behind”.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO LAUNCH THE WOMEN LEADERS FOR PLANETARY HEALTH?

Have you ever seen a girl or a woman hesitate to take center stage or to speak their mind, even if they have all the knowledge and legitimacy to do so? Women Leaders for Planetary Health (WLPH) is a network, knowledge, and advocacy hub that operates at the intersection between human and ecosystem health, focusing on gender equity. I launched this initiative at the UN Climate Summit (COP 25) in Madrid, and I was inspired by the support and interest of so many people.

Our mission today is to bridge the gaps between environmental and human health through gender-just solutions, ultimately influencing social and behavioural change for planetary health. By reducing the gap that remains for women in leadership roles, I am convinced that we can empower their voices to be able to influence just planetary health solutions, focusing on the Global South. We are unique because we are the first organization to concurrently focus on planetary health and gender equality, emphasizing the importance of acting on interlinked themes that remain tackled in a fragmented way: environmental and human health.

WHAT ISSUES ARE YOU TRYING TO SOLVE?

Women in developing countries are more vulnerable to inequalities related to patriarchal societal and cultural settings, socio-economic struggles, and negligent leadership when it comes to sustainable development. This struggle usually comes from their exclusion from decision making at all levels, perpetuating a dependency cycle.

As part of the Decade of Action to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), WLPH addresses two systemic societal problems directly related to the SDGs: i) underrepresentation of women in leadership on issues of planetary health ii) and the dominance of businesses that disregard externalities causing dangerous environmental degradation at the expense of most vulnerable groups. Both problems undermine key development and human health progress achieved in previous decades with a disproportionate impact on women. The WLPH digital community and capacity development hub breaks down borders and addresses global challenges targeting those who need it the most: women from the Global South. At the WPLH, we propose approaches to address inequality, discrimination and dangerous environmental degradation. We do this by offering capacity building opportunities that fit our digital era, improving advocacy and bridging the gaps between science and policy makers. As an empowering network with specific planetary health scientific knowledge, these actions enable us to harness the untapped potential of smart and creative women that would benefit hugely from being a part of a collective that is respectful, shares knowledge and encourages women to lead with a passion.

WHAT KIND OF POSITIVE ACTION DOES THE WLPH BRING TO THE FUTURE?

Planetary Health is a fast-paced scientific field and a social movement. WLPH is part of leading this growing movement, which inherently defends human rights and gender equity. Our solutions tackle deep existential threats to humanity in the context of human health in the Anthropocene, the era in which humans have become more powerful than geological forces altering our natural ecosystems. We exist to ensure that policies for the future take into account the whole of humanity and do not leave half of the world’s population behind. We envision a world where human systems are structured to operate in concert with the Earth system, so that the health of the planet and the health of people can flourish in harmony. We empower female change agents to lead a world where cultural norms around gender have changed and where we can witness social and environmental justice for all. We exist to promote a healthier, more equitable and more peaceful world.

Dr Nicole de Paula, Founder & Executive Director of the Women Leaders for Planetary Health