A global network of women leaders shaping the future of climate action.
Our Story
Women Leading on Climate began with a simple idea: when women leaders come together, they can accelerate climate action.
Catherine McKenna, Canada’s former Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister of Infrastructure, founded Women Leading on Climate after her experience as a lead negotiator for the Paris Agreement showed her that women possess a unique, collaborative power crucial for driving ambitious climate outcomes and breaking through diplomatic deadlocks.
What started as the "Women Kicking It on Climate" Summit during Canada's 2018 G7 Presidency became a sustained effort to actively connect women after leaving politics and starting the advisory firm Climate and Nature Solutions in 2021, starting with an event at COP26 in Glasgow.
In 2024, María Mendiluce, CEO of We Mean Business Coalition, mobilized more than 100 women leaders from business, government, finance and civil society to sign a joint statement calling for the government of Azerbaijan to reconsider appointing an all-male Organisational Committee for COP29. The statement successfully forced a public backtrack and 12 women were appointed to the team.
Recognizing their shared vision, Catherine and María joined forces to make WLOC a truly global movement, mobilizing leading businesswomen and corporate executives alongside public policy champions to accelerate ambitious climate action.
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1,000+
Women Leaders
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35+
Countries
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9
Regional Chapters
Our Impact
We bring women leaders together to share knowledge, build connections and turn collective influence into action.
From high-level convenings and executive-level knowledge sharing to public campaigns and thought leadership, WLOC creates opportunities for women across sectors and regions to connect, collaborate and amplify their impact on climate.
Convening Leaders
We bring women leaders together at COP forums, London Climate Week, New York Climate Week and other global gatherings to connect, collaborate and build solidarity.
Sharing Knowledge
We create opportunities to learn from leading voices across climate policy, business, finance and civil society—and turn ideas into action.
Mobilizing Collective Action
Through campaigns, open letters and policy recommendations, we amplify women's voices and push for greater climate ambition.
Amplifying Women's Voices
Through the Women Leading on Climate podcast, we share the stories, perspectives and solutions of women advancing climate action around the world.
Our Chapters
WLOC’s regional chapters bring women leaders together around the climate priorities, opportunities and challenges in their regions. From Canada and Brazil to India, Australia, the Nordics and Singapore, our chapters create local connections while strengthening a global movement for ambitious climate action.
Our Partners and Sponsors
