The Role of Women in Historical Climate Resistance: Lessons for Modern Youth Policy

Author(s)	Ms. Anupriya Bharti
Country	India
Abstract	This paper analyzes the essential involvement of women in two groundbreaking climate resistance movements from the twentieth century – the Chipko Movement from the Garhwal Himalayas, India (1973-1980), and the Green Belt Movement from Kenya (1977-present). Using the findings obtained from archival research, legal cases, and current policy sources, the analysis shows that women were not mere participants in these movements but rather leading figures who initiated ecological resistance through their personal experiences of dependency on nature for survival. Comparing these movements within an ecofeminist perspective and finding important similarities with the modern global youth climate movement, this paper extracts valuable lessons for formulating youth climate governance policies. Moreover, it describes how these movements found their place within the international community via such frameworks as the UNFCCC Gender Action Plan and the SDGs. Finally, conclusions are drawn regarding youth policy design and implementation.
Keywords	Chipko Movement, Green Belt Movement, Wangari Maathai, Gaura Devi, ecofeminism, climate resistance, youth climate policy, grassroots activism, UNFCCC Gender Action Plan, SDGs, environmental governance.
Field	Sociology > Archaeology / History
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 3, May-June 2026
Published On	2026-05-21

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