In August 2019, HER Planet Earth partnered with Just Challenge to bring together a team of 12 women from around the world to trek across Iceland, in an effort to raise awareness and funds for underprivileged women affected by climate change.
What’s the Issue and Why Does it Matter?
In the past decade, disasters have led to the loss of 700 thousand lives, 1.7 billion people affected and economic losses of USD 1.4 trillion. These effects disproportionately affect women and girls: multiple discriminations mean that women are more vulnerable in crises and post disasters situations. In view of this, the team will partner with non-profit organisation, UN Women UK, and raise (USD$150,000) for projects focused on the economic empowerment of women in rural areas of Asia, notably in Bangladesh, Nepal and Vietnam, ultimately helping them build climate change resilience.
What’s the Issue and Why Does it Matter?
In the past decade, disasters have led to the loss of 700 thousand lives, 1.7 billion people affected and economic losses of USD 1.4 trillion. These effects disproportionately affect women and girls: multiple discriminations mean that women are more vulnerable in crises and post disasters situations. In view of this, the team will partner with non-profit organisation, UN Women UK, and raise (USD$150,000) for projects focused on the economic empowerment of women in rural areas of Asia, notably in Bangladesh, Nepal and Vietnam, ultimately helping them build climate change resilience.
The Facts: The Gender Inequality of Climate Change
- More than 70% of the fatalities from the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka and Indonesia were women (UN ESCAP 2013).
- Of those killed by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar in 2008, 61 percent were women and girls. In some severely affected villages, the death rate of those aged 18 to 60 for women was double that of men (Myanmar Government, ASEAN & UN 2008).
- The death toll for women and girls following the devastating earthquake in Nepal in 2015 was 55% (UN Women 2015)
The Challenge
Chosen as one of the "World's Best Hikes: Epic Trails" by National Geographic, the eight-day trek, which is self-funded by each participant, will involve a travers of the phenomenal Landmannalaugar region. The area is one of the most active volcanic and alien landscapes in the highlands of Iceland and is located at the very edge of Laugahraun lava field, which was formed by an eruption in 1477.
Arriving on Tuesday 20 August into Reykjavik, Challenge Iceland 2019 offered the most spectacular scenery - eight days of Iceland's dramatic landscape from lava fields, waterfalls and glaciers to sprouting geysers and whale watching.
During the expedition, the HER Planet Earth team will trekked 80km on foot crossing lava tunnels, multi-coloured mountains, shimmering glaciers, bubbling hot springs, roaring rivers and a magnificent canyon.
Elevation: 500m to 1300m
Difficulty: moderate to difficult
Dates: August 20-27, 2019
During the expedition, the HER Planet Earth team will trekked 80km on foot crossing lava tunnels, multi-coloured mountains, shimmering glaciers, bubbling hot springs, roaring rivers and a magnificent canyon.
Elevation: 500m to 1300m
Difficulty: moderate to difficult
Dates: August 20-27, 2019
HER Planet Earth is a global women’s advocacy movement that promotes a deeper connection
between female empowerment and the integrity of the environment.
between female empowerment and the integrity of the environment.