The climate crisis has the entire world in a chokehold. From North America to Asia, residents around the globe are struggling to escape the grips of extreme heat plaguing their nations.
The future, for all intents and purposes, looks grim, but for Bruneian Amar Syahirah binti Haji Abdul Murad and her network of aspiring women leaders from ASEAN, climate resilience is achievable, requiring a feminine touch.
“The United Nations (UN) estimates that globally women and girls are 14 times more likely than men to die during a climate disaster. Also, 80 per cent of people displaced by climate change are mostly women,” said the 29-year-old.
Amar Syahirah was one of 55 young women from ASEAN who participated in the 9th United States (US)-ASEAN Women’s Leadership Academy (WLA) for Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Regional Workshop in Bali, Indonesia.
The four-day programme – which gathered women between the ages of 22 and 35 from all across Southeast Asia – was aimed at empowering and advancing emerging women leaders, advocates and individuals dedicated to tackling the climate crisis and addressing challenges in the E4 – Environment, Ecology, Energy and Equity.
With her heart set on amplifying the voices of women in climate advocacy, Amar Syahirah, along with her WLA cohorts from Myanmar, the Philippines and Indonesia, established Team Planet, one of a handful of projects that received a Seed Grant Fund by the US Embassy.
The impetus of Team Planet came from the observation that Southeast Asia remains one of the most at-risk regions to climate change due to its geography and high reliance on water and their agriculture sectors.
Despite the fact that women and girls being disproportionately affected by climate change, the alum noted how women’s voices are often overlooked within climate change discourse, and as such, Team Planet was borne as a remedy for this exact issue.
“In order to address this, one viable approach is to foster equitable engagement; wherein women will amplify the advocacy of people, especially other women in climate resilience.
“The issue of climate change is one of the largest burdens for women to carry (therefore) creating more space for diverse women to share their stories is needed,” said Amar Syahirah.
Team Planet was designed to feature stories of ASEAN women engaging in climate change efforts through grassroots initiative, which will be told through a series of social media campaigns.
“The campaign will also highlight the challenges they face and the solutions they have developed to build (climate) resilience in the communities,” she explained, adding that a booklet is also planned which will be available in multiple ASEAN languages.
According to Amar Syahirah, not only are these initiatives meant to address the scarcity of women’s voices in climate change policies, it also promotes regional collaboration among thought leaders in addressing climate change.
“By showcasing their stories and solutions, we hope to inspire others to take action on climate change and contribute to building resilient and sustainable communities.
“The solutions also provide a platform for women to share their knowledge and experiences, creating a space for learning and collaboration toward a sustainable future,” she continued.
With a solid foundation in mind, Amar Syahirah and her cohorts from Team Planet are looking to incorporate more voices of women in indigenous communities, marginalised groups, women-led grassroots organisations as well as policy makers.
“Women are the first responders in community-related natural disasters. Indigenous women are at the forefront of environmental conservation, practicing invaluable knowledge that helps build resilience and reduce emissions.
“Including these women in climate action creates sustainability and equitability,” she said.
Reflecting back on her time spent participating in the 9th US-ASEAN WLA YSEALI Regional Workshop, Amar Syahirah believed that it was an essential step towards magnifying her own climate advocacy which in turned helped pave the way for Team Planet.
“The theme, ‘Women for E4; Environment, Ecology, Energy and Equity’ has brought me into contact with individuals who have been at the forefront of this issue, including policy makers, educators, researchers, advocates, and industry professionals.
“Listening to the stories and experiences of these remarkable women has shed light on how we can collectively drive progress and growth,” she said.
Ultimately, for Amar Syahirah, the programme has helped nurture her inner potential, so much so, that it has helped driven her advocacy journey towards demanding change.
She recounted an activity that the alumni participated in during the programme which involved cleaning a mangrove forest. For Amar Syahirah this was the moment that cemented her path towards climate change advocacy.
“Waist-deep in water, the entire delegation worked tirelessly to collect various types of trash. It was astonishing to witness the vast quantity of garbage we accumulated, totalling nearly 800 kilogrammes, in less than an hour,” she recalled.
Through this experience, she discovered the pressing need for collective action which in turn heightened her determination to combat environmental degradation.
“As a youth in Brunei, I hope to continue on this path and create meaningful change in my community,” she told the Bulletin. – Rizal Faisal
