Happy International Women’s Day! 

This year, the United Nation’s theme for International Women’s Day is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.” Across the Caribbean, the impacts of the climate crisis are already here; from heat waves and coral bleaching, to ocean acidification, sea level rise and increasingly relentless and unforgiving hurricanes. Yet more and more research suggests climate change will disproportionately burden women compared to men. For example, women are more likely to live in poverty than men, have less access to basic human rights like the ability to freely move and own land, and face systematic violence that can escalate during periods of instability.

Without a doubt, one of the greatest challenges we face in The Bahamas, the Caribbean and globally is advancing gender equality in the context of the climate crisis and disaster risk reduction. But one thing is for certain; when it comes to issues like climate change and sustainability, it’s on all of us to call out gender bias, stereotyping and discrimination. It’s on all of us to amplify the voices of women and girls and invite them to the decision-making tables. It’s on all of us to imagine and create a gender equal world, where differences are valued and celebrated. And it’s on all of us to stand up and #BreakTheBias.

At the Perry Institute, we’re marking this International Women’s Day by celebrating our ocean SHEROES, our fearless women warriors who are fighting every day to protect our blue planet. We invite you to dive in and celebrate with us by learning a bit more about our women staff and leaders conducting groundbreaking conservation work in The Bahamas and throughout the Caribbean.