About this episode
This week, the All Things Sustainable podcast delves into the intersection of climate change and gender equality with Rachel Vestergaard, Founder and CEO of Empower Co. Empower Co. is a brokerage firm that is building a global voluntary market for women's empowerment as measured by the W+ Standard, which is hosted by the S&P Global Commodity Insights Environmental Registry. Studies have showed that the climate crisis is not gender neutral, with women and girls experiencing the greatest impacts of climate change. As we approach International Women's Day on March 8, Rachel discusses how her company is creating a global voluntary market for women's empowerment using the W+ Standard, which measures six domains critical for women's empowerment: Time Savings, Income & Assets, Health, Leadership, Education & Knowledge, and Food Security. Rachel emphasizes that women are also crucial to finding solutions. "Without that, we are completely fighting this climate crisis issue with one hand behind our back," she says. This episode highlights the importance of integrating gender equity into climate solutions and the role businesses can play in supporting this mission, especially as we look ahead to the UN's COP30 climate change conference in Brazil this November. Read more about the W+ Standard here: https://view.highspot.com/viewer/66047cb70b83e1a2d28f9003?utm_campaign=Oktopost-Global-Cross+Commodity-Random+Posts&utm_content=Oktopost-linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin#1 Listen to a previous episode that explores the topic of climate change and gender here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/intersection-of-gender-and-climate-in-focus-ahead-of-cop28 This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global. Copyright ©2025 by S&P Global DISCLAIMER By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties. S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.