Blog by Soroptimist International President, Siew Yong Gnanalingam, and Soroptimist International Africa Federation President, Mary Muia.
The seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), under the theme “Advancing Sustainable Solutions for a Resilient Planet”, has just concluded in Nairobi after intensive negotiations, high-level dialogues, youth engagement and renewed calls for decisive global action. UNEA is the home of global environmental governance, where delegates take decisive action(s) to better safeguard the planet and its people. Nearly 6,000 delegates from more than 170 countries gathered at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters from 8 to 12 December.
Soroptimist International (SI) is a member of the Women and Children & Youth Major Groups. Running prior to the Assembly, the Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum is open to organisations that are not accredited by UNEP, offering an opportunity for both accredited and non-accredited stakeholders to exchange perspectives among themselves and with representatives from the UNEP Secretariat and interested Member States. The aim is to foster dialogue and collaboration in addressing significant environmental issues within the framework of the UNEA-7 agenda.
SI’s Representatives to the UN in Nairobi were honoured to host Soroptimist International President Siew Yong at the just-concluded UNEA-7. Prior to UNEA-7, during the week of 1–5 December, we participated in a week-long Open-Ended Committee of the Permanent Representatives (OECPR).
Women at the grassroots are transforming landscapes and livelihoods. Their leadership, and that of communities, is essential to achieving the environmental goals championed at UNEA-7. As delegates worked tirelessly to build consensus to address issues with wide-reaching consequences for people and planet, they confronted new and emerging issues, linking the environment to technology, health and the global economy, while also considering how best to deal with ever-growing concerns pertaining to climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, commonly referred to as the planetary crises.
The SI Club of Nairobi Central (SINC), in collaboration with the Women for Water Partnership and the State Department for Children Services, submitted a Green Room side event that was successful and scheduled for 1 December 2025. The side event brought grassroots women, children, youth and policymakers’ stories, innovations and impact to the global stage—showing what is possible when communities lead. The event, titled “Greening Our Horizons: Soroptimists Leading the Way”, is a flagship initiative by the Soroptimist International Club of Nairobi Central, piloted by the SI Africa Federation clubs and to be scaled up across five (5) geographical SIAF regions.
The initiative was developed under the Soroptimist International Foundation global umbrella to inspire action on environmental protection and climate justice. The project integrates tree planting, waste management, environmental literacy and clean energy advocacy, all driven by women, youth and local communities.
This event highlighted key achievements and community case studies, demonstrating how environmental sustainability intersects with education, health, gender equity and economic empowerment. Participants also explored ways to replicate and scale such models through policy integration and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
The Principal Secretary emphasised that:
“For climate solutions to be sustainable, they must be fully integrated into existing social protection and family strengthening programmes. We are deliberately aligning climate action with the Cash Transfer Programme for orphans and vulnerable children, alongside our family empowerment initiatives, to ensure households are resilient against climate-driven vulnerabilities.”
The side event was also graced by the presence of Cadet Corporal Ellyanne Wanjiku-Chlystum-Githae, Youth Leader in Environmental Action, Artificial Intelligence and Public Health. Ellyanne is a 15-year-old African youth leader, AI researcher and environmental champion who has inspired the planting of over 1.3 million trees. She is a published author, Global Malaria Ambassador and founder of Children With Nature, training thousands of children in climate action and technology for good.
Speaking from her lived experience, Ellyanne shared her reflections on AI, Energy and the Economy: A Youth Perspective. She pointed out that, “AI is set to add $15.7 trillion to global GDP by 2030, creating 97 million jobs while optimising renewable energy. However, its energy-intensive infrastructure, requiring 945 TWh and $6.7 trillion in investment, raises concerns about sustainability and potential ecological and social inequalities.”
Dr Habiba Alalmbo from the Women for Water Partnership and the Stronger Together Coalition underscored the power of networks in water and climate resilience.
When water runs dry, when sanitation systems collapse, when floods wipe out homes—women and girls are the first to feel the impact and the last to escape the consequences!
Inclusion is not a checkbox. It is a systemic commitment—and commitments demand resources, accountability and courage.
According to Tiffany (Wambui) Maigua, another young Soroptimist, law student and rapporteur, key takeaways from the Greening Our Horizons side event discussions noted that:
Women and Indigenous communities are demonstrating the power of community-rooted climate action through large-scale restoration and nature-based solutions.
Children and youth are shaping climate agendas and must be intentionally included at all levels of climate governance.
Government intentions show the value of integrating Greening Our Horizons initiatives into statutory children’s institutions, combining climate action with protection and rehabilitation.
True sustainability requires extending climate education, green skills and livelihood opportunities to every child, including those in conflict with the law.
The Way Forward
Soroptimist International and its partners continue to demonstrate that environmental sustainability, women’s empowerment and child protection are interconnected pillars of development. To build a resilient future, we must ensure that no child or community is left behind on the journey to greening our horizons.
There is no climate resilience without water security. There is no water security without women’s leadership and inclusion!
Together We Can Create Change!
