A celebration of women-led climate leadership unfolded at Serena Hotel in Islamabad on 3 June 2026 as the fourth Pakistan Gender Climate Award honoured two women whose work is shaping local climate resilience and conservation. The 2026 Gender Climate Award drew a record 352 applications from across Pakistan, underscoring growing momentum for women-led climate solutions.
Dr. Zillay Mariam Sohail was recognised for pioneering waste transformation into sustainable value chains and promoting circular economy solutions that create livelihoods and reduce environmental harm. Ms. Songul Jamal received the award for her leadership in marine ecosystem conservation and community awareness among coastal populations. Each awardee received PKR 1 million to support ongoing impact.
The ceremony brought together government officials, development partners, civil society, academia, media and the diplomatic community. In her opening keynote, Senator Sherry Rehman highlighted the essential role that women play in emergency response, recovery and long-term resilience, noting that women both bear the brunt of climate impacts and lead practical solutions.
Federal Secretary for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Aisha Moriani commended the Embassy of France and partner organisations for championing women’s leadership in climate action and for making women’s participation more visible across the country. Ambassador Nadeem Riyaz and senior journalist Arifa Noor moderated two panel discussions that explored opportunities and barriers to strengthening women’s participation in climate decision-making.
In his remarks, H.E. Nicolas Galey, Ambassador of France to Pakistan, stressed France’s commitment to promoting gender equality alongside climate action and the importance of investing in women as agents of resilience. Dr. Samuel Rizk, UNDP Resident Representative in Pakistan, underlined the need for inclusive and equitable climate responses and praised the awardees for translating knowledge into action on the ground.
The Gender Climate Award is supported by the Embassy of France, the French Development Agency (AFD), UNDP, the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, UN Women and the Aga Khan Foundation, and is implemented by the Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change. Aisha Khan of CSCCC said the platform amplifies women’s voices and inspires a new generation of changemakers as climate risks intensify.
The event showcased Pakistan’s growing network of women climate leaders, from circular economy innovators to coastal conservation advocates, and reinforced calls for continued investment and policy support to scale locally led solutions across the country.
