Climate KIC unveils new gender-smart handbook for climate entrepreneurs
In a world of diverse needs and perspectives, women bring distinctive leadership qualities, social change capabilities, and entrepreneurial skills that are essential to innovation. Studies show that women-led firms have higher ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) scores, and businesses with a higher share of women in leadership positions are more likely to adopt environmentally friendly practices. Additionally, women-led ventures generate more revenue.
Despite this, inequality in climate innovation continues, with men dominating the sector, both in the number of climate start-ups founded by men and the amount of funding given to men-founded companies versus those founded by women.
To foster stronger ideas and solutions in climate innovation, we must catalyse support for women as agents of change in start-ups and in the development of products that serve women’s communities.
So, how can climate start-ups become gender-smart?
The handbook “WeClim Equally: Gender-Smart Handbook for Climate Entrepreneurs” developed in collaboration with Bopinc, supports climate start-ups in embedding gender perspectives across all facets of their operations.
It features exercises for start-ups to assess the strength of their gender considerations within their organisation and implement interventions across four critical areas:
- Leadership: Strategies to cultivate gender-balanced leadership and decision-making structures.
- Organisational culture: Best practices for fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace environment.
- Marketplace: Approaches to ensure gender considerations are integrated into product development, marketing, and customer engagement.
- Community: Ideas for supporting gender equality within the broader community and ecosystem.
By addressing these areas, start-ups can promote gender equality and drive innovation and business success within the climate innovation sector.
At Climate KIC, we are committed to driving systemic change in gender equity across the climate innovation sector. Supported by Irish Aid, CATAL1.5°T, and IDB Lab, our programme helps partners identify gaps in their understanding of gender inequity and implement concrete actions to embed a gender lens into their everyday work. This initiative is part of a campaign launched by Climate KIC, outlining five actions to address gender inequity in climate entrepreneurship: Action 1: Reflect internally, Action 2: Show them the money, Action 3: Update marketing and communications materials, Action 4: Robust data collection, Action 5: Bringing in men as allies.