New Orleans becomes first U.S. city to participate in the groundbreaking C40 Women4Climate Mentorship Program
New Orleans, LA (27 June, 2019) — Today, the City of New Orleans, in partnership with C40 and the Greater New Orleans Foundation, announced the launch of a new mentorship program to support the next generation of women climate leaders. New Orleans will become the latest city globally and the first city in the United States to participate in the C40 Women4Climate Mentorship Program, which will match 10 promising young New Orleans women from diverse fields with established women leaders from across the city.
“As the first woman to be elected Mayor of New Orleans, I am proud to announce that our city will be the first from the U.S. to participate in the Women4Climate Mentorship Program,” said LaToya Cantrell, Mayor of New Orleans. “Women are effective leaders, critical problem solvers, and passionate champions for the strong and sustainable future we all want. I look forward to working with the determined and forward-thinking women of tomorrow.”
For New Orleans, climate change is not a future scenario, but a current reality. The environment of South Louisiana is changing rapidly, from eroding coastal marshes, to subsiding land in urban neighborhoods. The City of New Orleans’ resilience and sustainability strategy includes a commitment to create a culture of environmental awareness at every stage of life, while making sure residents can become part of climate solutions.
The Women4Climate Mentorship Program matches mayors, committed leaders from the business, science and technology, education, and community activism sectors with emerging women leaders. Each participant will receive training that will help them develop the necessary skills, address barriers, and inspire effective climate action. Mentors share their own experiences, knowledge and perspectives, enabling mentees to become powerful leaders in their chosen field, including energy, transportation, waste and culture.
“Since 2010, the Greater New Orleans Foundation has been leading a movement to help our region better live with water. We have met and invested in many women who are delivering climate adaptation and mitigation solutions in their neighborhoods and professions, helping to reduce the threats of sea level rise and storm intensity,” said Ella Delio, Director of Environmental Programs of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. “This program will help advance this important work by growing capacity and growing the movement of leaders working to protect and sustain the city and region we love.”
“Investments in women yield powerful returns when it comes to critical global issues – particularly climate change. The first Women4Climate mentorship scheme launched in North America will create opportunities to cultivate impactful female leadership,” said Antha Williams, Head of Environmental Programs at Bloomberg Philanthropies.
The Women4Climate initiative brings together mayors of the world’s leading cities, CEOs, climate experts and inspiring young women leaders to demonstrate and accelerate the power of women who are committed to creating a healthier, greener and more economically prosperous future.
Currently, there are active Women4Climate Mentorship Programmes in Paris, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Mexico City, London, Quito, Montreal and Vancouver, and the mayors of Auckland, Barcelona and Sydney announced their own mentorship schemes at the third annual Women4Climate Conference earlier this year.
L’Oréal and ELLE Magazine are the founding partners of the Women4Climate Initiative, with many of their own top managers participating in the scheme.
Applications for this 10-month mentorship program are due on July 21. For more information, including how to apply, visit https://w4c.org/mentorship.