Humanis, Teens Go Green, dan Ecoxyztem kicks off Global Girls Creating Change (G2C2) program

In July 29-30, 2024, Humanis and our implementing partners Teens Go Green and Exoxyztem kicks off the Global Girls Creating Change (G2C2) program. Supported by the U.S. Department of State – Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues, the program aims to foster a girls-led climate movement, focusing on a more just and inclusive climate policies.

We believe that meaningful changes come from including diverse groups—girls being one of them. Unfortunately, negative sentiments and biases towards girls, women, and youth at large often puts women at the sidelines of the decision-making process. Climate action in formal settings often sidelines the contribution of the younger generation, albeit it is their future that is at stake.

Patriarchal values, which remain deeply entrenched in many societies, further marginalize women, especially those active in climate activism. However, the reality is that four out of every five people displaced by climate change are women and girls (UNICEF, 2021). At the same time, women and girls have unequal participation in (climate) decision making and less access to finance, land, assets and resources. Considering these global challenges, we see an urgent need to create more opportunities for women and girls to actively engage in climate action.

In Indonesia, we recognize the cultural and structural challenges that limit women’s participation, particularly in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). On a broader scale, this reflects the lack of women’s representation in positions of power and high-level decision-making processes.

Our baseline study, conducted by PPH Atma Jaya revealed a significant gap in the explicit inclusion of young people, especially girls, in climate action regulations. Out of the 19 policies analyzed, none at the Law of the Republic of Indonesia (Undang-Undang) level specifically addressed the role of youth in climate action or sustainable development. Instead, most regulations use broad terms such as “community participation,” which might implicitly include youth but do not explicitly recognize their role or provide targeted measures for their involvement. For this reason, Humanis, alongside Teens Go Green and Ecoxyztem Venture Builder, is committed to changing this situation. Beyond representation, we aim to support and enhance young women’s participation in climate movement, STEM, and entrepreneurship through the G2C2 program in Indonesia.

As part of Hivos Global initiative, the program will cover four geopolitical regions and implemented in Indonesia, Brazil, Nepal, and Uganda to achieve three key objectives: to improve girls’ technical and entrepreneurial skills especially in STEM, to lead their community’s climate policy and initiatives, to build in-country and local coalitions, and to provide grants and other support to enable more inclusive business and economic opportunities for girls.

The kick-off event, held at the Novotel Hotel in Cikini, Central Jakarta, aimed to establish the guiding principles and values for the program’s implementation. It also focused on aligning the interventions of each partner organization to ensure consistency with G2C2’s global agenda and shared objectives.

In her address, our Executive Director Tunggal Pawestri was represented by Endro Catur Nugroho, our Program Development Manager for Climate Justice Impact Area. He emphasized the importance of justice in the implementation of the program, stating, “For Humanis, carrying out a program like this is a responsibility rooted in the principles of justice. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard, especially by those in power, and that everyone has the opportunity to participate.” 

The launch of G2C2 marks the beginning of a long journey to strengthen the role of young women in climate leadership. By collaborating with the government, civil society, and girls-led communities over the next three years, we hope to create broader and more meaningful participation spaces for women. Ultimately, through G2C2, we hope to see more fair and inclusive climate policies in the future.