Equitable and equal access to resources, employment, remuneration and opportunities; some of the tools of empowerment to fulfil one’s potential are not always available to everyone – especially women. 

To mark this year’s International Women’s Day on 8 March, we spoke with five exceptional women in the field of ozone layer and environmental protection. Drawing on their personal experience, they spoke of what rights, equality and empowerment mean to them and whether, as a woman, they felt they had access to equal rights, equality and empowerment growing up and in their careers.

Mahnaz Sayahi, Ph.D research student at LSBU Heating and Cooling Research Group,  former UNIDO Consultant on the Montreal Protocol  

Pursuing a career in the energy sector as a young woman came with challenges. The industry has long been male-dominated, and early on, I encountered obstacles that many women in technical fields face. However,       I have always believed that women bring unique and sustainable perspectives to energy and environmental industries.

My journey took a significant turn when I joined projects under the Montreal Protocol at UNIDO. Being part of a global effort to phase out ozone-depleting substances and improving energy efficiency was not just professionally rewarding but also personally empowering. I was fortunate to collaborate with both men and women who inspired me, helping me recognise my own capabilities and reinforcing the importance of gender inclusivity in engineering and environmental science in several countries.

Motivated by expertise and leadership of women in academia, I decided to deepen my knowledge in this field. Now, at the Heating and Cooling Group at London South Bank University (LSBU), I am studying strategies for decarbonising refrigeration systems in UK convenience stores, a sector where 65 per cent of staff are women. This representation is promising, and I hope my research helps create more sustainable business opportunities for them.

For me, rights, equality, and empowerment mean having the freedom to pursue one’s passions without systemic barriers and being recognised for the value women bring. I am grateful for the women who paved the way and the colleagues who continue to support gender inclusivity in my field. I remain committed to advancing this path, ensuring that the next generation experiences even greater equality in energy and environmental sectors worldwide.

Anastasia O’Rourke, Senior Managing Director, Carbon Containment Lab 

As I write this, I realise that these days I tend to take it for granted that I have rights, I am treated equally, and I am empowered to take action – in my case, on climate change. 

I am lucky to have grown up in a society and family that valued learning and that encouraged me to pursue my own opportunities and work on something that mattered to me. When I started working in sustainability in Australia in the late 1990s it wasn’t even a “field”, and there really wasn’t a recognisable career path. 

I’ve forged my own path and created opportunities for myself. Which was a lot of hard work that variously included fundraising, writing my own job descriptions, creating my own company, proposing classes to teach, and co-founding two different NGOs. 

Of course, there have been set-backs, moments when people overlook my contributions or even present my ideas as their own. That is always a surprise, but I try to not get stuck in feeling bad or negatively about it and just keep moving on with grace and dignity. I also try to lead by example. At the Carbon Containment Lab and in teaching at Yale University, I try to infuse my team and my students with a spirit of self-empowerment, of continuous learning, and of creating opportunities both for ourselves and for others.

Kylie Farrelley, General Manager Refrigerant Reclaim Australia

Women’s right to access opportunities, resources, and recognition in our industry is crucial. My involvement with organisations like Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA) and the United Nations Environment Programme’s Technical Options Committee has reinforced my belief that when everyone has the right and opportunity to participate and lead, we create space for differing perspectives, driving improved outcomes.

My career has shown me that rights are not about individual success but collective responsibility. Progress comes from ensuring that knowledge and opportunity, not gender, is the foundation of influence.

Equality means dismantling barriers and fostering real opportunities for growth. This includes embracing flexible work, encouraging women to take on challenges, investing in education, and learning from successful international models.

I have been fortunate to work in an industry where I have been respected and supported from the beginning, 25 years ago. I have never had to choose between my career and my children, thanks to flexible arrangements, trust, and understanding.

I feel empowered when my ideas are met with support and enthusiasm. Having mentors who have championed my success has reinforced the importance of lifting others up and fostering inclusive workplaces.

True equality is about reshaping structures to help employees take supported risks and step outside their comfort zones.

The Montreal Protocol community has been instrumental in encouraging women to step into leadership. I am proud to be part of a network, including amazing women, that uplift and support each other, ensuring we thrive in roles that challenge and empower us.

Mackenzie Dobson, Associate, Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy

As a career-oriented woman, protecting and empowering my right to work and the rights of my fellow female workforce are of the utmost importance to me. Growing up, my mother was the breadwinner of the family – she worked in corporate America until she hit a glass ceiling and rather than stagnation, she elected to start her own small business in the science and technology fields, with my father supporting her as her vice president in the company. 

She set an example for me and my siblings, with my older sister now becoming a young executive in her company as well. Without my mother’s influence, I would never have the courage to stand up and assert my voice in the workplace or move beyond imposter syndrome. 

I have been fortunate enough to work in places that do not diminish the opinions of women and have had several bosses stand up for me and my work. Moving forward, I aim to assist the other women coming after me, who will do bigger and better things. Taking part in women’s advocacy, like participating in the Women’s March here in Washington, D.C., is an opportunity I will never take for granted.

Avipsa Mahapatra, Climate Campaign Director, Environmental Investigation Agency US

Growing up in India, I learned that societal expectations and systemic barriers seldom allow every voice to carry the same resonance. Reflecting on my journey, I see rights, equality and empowerment as both the aspirations of a just society and the yardsticks by which we measure its shortcomings. Later, as a young brown woman working globally as an environmental activist, I have seen how the fight for climate justice amplifies these broader inequities. 

I’ve come to view the climate crisis not just as a challenge, but as an opportunity to reshape our world in a more inclusive and sustainable way. When women of colour stand at the front lines of environmental advocacy, we are not simply demanding a healthier planet; we are calling for a shift in power structures that have historically disregarded our communities. Lived experience is expertise, and when we centre the voices of those most impacted, we unlock smarter community-driven solutions and just policy. 

To me, this is where real empowerment flourishes. By openly acknowledging existing inequalities, we create space to imagine a better and more equitable future. True change requires that we work together—across race, gender, and class—to dismantle outdated hierarchies with systems that empower every individual to exercise their rights equally.