Female Land Ownership as a Climate Crisis Solution

Did you know that women own less than 20 percent of the world's land? A survey of 34 developing nations by the United Nations (UN) puts that percentage as low as 10. More than 400 million women farm and produce the majority of the world’s food supply. Yet, female farmers lack equal rights to own land in more than 90 countries.

In 2017, the World Economic Forum shared that land and property can form up to 75 percent of a nation’s wealth, yet the vast majority of the world’s population cannot prove they own the land on which they live or work. In fact, 90 percent of all of the land on the African continent is still entirely undocumented. In the Middle East/North African region in particular, nearly 25 million urban women lack equal constitutional rights, affecting their statutory property opportunities.

The UN coins women ‘environmental stewards.’ They stated: “When women have secure land rights, they are more likely to adopt sustainable, climate-resilient agricultural practices—such as agroforestry, soil restoration, and using drought-resistant seeds—which enhance food security, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.” Women also comprise 80 percent of climate-induced refugees, and female-owned farm yields could rise by 20–30 percent, potentially feeding an additional 100–150 million people, reducing the need to clear new forests for agricultural land.