Climate Justice

Zonta Foothills Club Fights for Climate Justice

Zonta International envisions a world in which women’s rights are recognized as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full potential. In such a world, women have access to all resources and are represented in decision-making positions on an equal basis with men. In such a world, no woman lives in fear of violence. Climate change threatens those human rights... the right to life, food, water, health, education, livelihood, and safety. 

Climate change disproportionately affects women and girls, and action is needed from a gender equality perspective. Zonta International and the Zonta Foothills Club of Boulder County pledge to empower women and girls at the global and local levels, and to promote justice and universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Therefore, we call for action to ensure a fair and human rights-based approach to solve the crisis of climate change in the post-pandemic world and achieve greener, cleaner, and equal societies.

Unequal structures and cultural norms mean women and girls face far greater consequences from climate change than men

Currently, around the world, one in every 10 women lives in extreme poverty. By 2030, the United Nations estimates that climate change could push: 

  • 158 million women and girls into poverty 

  • 674 million into high or critical water stress 

  • 236 million women and girls into food insecurity.

Zonta is NOT an environmental organization, but in our mission to Build a Better World for Women and Girls, we are fighting to put human rights at the core of decision-making and climate action.  We recognize that the environmental justice movement is at the core of climate justice and that in the United States, people living near the most polluted environments are often people of color. Voices from those communities are leading in the fight to address environmental racism, and we commit to being their allies, shaping policies to ensure environmental equity in all communities.

Women’s rights ARE human rights, and Zonta Says Now to Climate Action, our Zonta International initiative, is building awareness to create a healthy, gender-equal environment. It calls on us to move forward, not as competitors but as colleagues and partners. 

To learn more about the impact of local climate leaders, enjoy Women Taking Climate Action

which documents the contributions of our Climate Justice Scholars and other Colorado leaders.

Our 2025 Climate Justice Forum was an informative panel that brought climate justice issues to life. Panelists included:

  • Lesley Smith, CO Representative HD 49 2025- present, CU Regent 2019-2015, First woman aquanaut at NOAA’s underwater Research Habitat

  • KC Becker, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator 2021-24, CO House Speaker 2019-21, CO State Representative 2013-21, Boulder City Council 2009-13

  • Mariah Bowman CU JD candidate and Sara Fleming, CU MS candidate in Geography, Team members contributing to CU Boulder’s Climate Action Plan (CAP), 2025 Zonta Foothills Climate Justice Scholars

  • Casey Davis, CU Ph.D. candidate in Chemistry working on sustainable electronics for renewable energy applications, 2025 Zonta Foothills Climate Justice Scholar

Zonta Foothills CIimate Justice Scholarship

The Zonta Foothills Climate Justice Scholarship educates women who are future climate leaders. By supporting their education, we are helping students build just systems that will sustain the planet for future generations.

Our International Women’s Day Climate Forum discussed the impacts of the environment on women’s safety and careers.

The Zonta Foothills Club of Boulder County advocates for Environmental Justice are putting equity and human rights at the core of decision-making and action on climate change.