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The Climate Gender Gap: Why Women Are Leading the Climate Vote—And How ALL Youth Can Get Involved

Updated: May 7

Sustainable Stillwater MN recently reviewed a powerful new report shared in a webinar by the Environmental Voter Project (EVP), a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to mobilizing environmentalists who don’t vote. Since 2015, EVP has contacted more than 12.8 million of these “non-voting environmentalists” and successfully transformed over 2 million of them into consistent voters.


The webinar focused on EVP’s newest research publication: The Green Gender Gap: How Women Are Shaping the Climate Vote. Although the study did not include Minnesota, its findings offer nationwide insights that highlight a clear trend in climate activism and voting.


Female gender gap advantage

Young Women Are Leading the Charge

The report found a significant and growing gender gap among climate voters:

  • 62% of “climate voters” are women, while only 37% are men.

  • This 25-point gender gap is five times wider than the overall 5-point gender difference between registered voters (52% women, 47% men).

  • The disparity is most pronounced among young voters aged 18–24, where 67% of young women list climate as their top issue compared to only 33% of young men.

  • Notably, this is not due to skewed voter registration—registration in this age group is nearly equal between men and women.


The implication is clear: Young women are far more likely to prioritize climate at the ballot box.


In terms of age groups, women aged 25–49 (likely to have children) and 65+ (likely to be grandmothers) together account for 46.6% of all climate voters, despite comprising just 35.5% of the general electorate. This suggests that mothers and grandmothers are becoming the heart of the climate voting bloc.


Why the Gender Gap?

Panelists in the EVP webinar offered several insights into why women are more engaged in climate action:

  • Disproportionate impact – Women often bear the brunt of climate-related health, caregiving, and economic stresses.

  • Heart-centered leadership – Women are more likely to respond to climate threats with empathy and emotional urgency.

  • Community-focused action – Women tend to focus on relationship-building and local resilience—key components of long-term climate solutions.

  • Effective, humble leadership – Women are often motivated by “getting it done” rather than “being in charge,” which can lead to more collaborative, behind-the-scenes action.


At Sustainable Stillwater MN, these insights raise an essential question for our community: How can we encourage more young men to engage meaningfully in climate advocacy?




The Time to Engage is Now: Two Upcoming Youth Opportunities

Sustainable Stillwater MN strongly encourages ALL young people to take the next step from awareness to action. Two important events this May offer excellent opportunities for youth to get involved and make their voices heard.


📢 Attend the Washington County Commissioners’ Meeting on Climate Action

A crucial first step toward a comprehensive county-wide Climate Action Plan (CAP) is happening Tuesday, May 13 at 9:00 AM. The Washington County Board will vote on the approval of a contract to initiate the CAP.


According to Joe Ayers-Johnson, Senior Planner for the county:

“We will be bringing the Climate Action Plan contract to the Board for approval on May 13. This will be accompanied by a short presentation that summarizes the project scope and timeline. The project will kick-off within a week of contract approval, and first order of business will be to further develop the stakeholder engagement plan.”

Sustainable Stillwater MN encourages students, families, and environmentally minded residents to show up and demonstrate community support. A strong public presence at this meeting will send a clear message: climate action matters to Washington County residents.


Tuesday, May 13, 2025 | 9:00 AM

Washington County Government Center

Meeting details and agenda (when available):


4-H climate Career Panel

🌱 Explore Green Careers at the 4-H Climate Career Panel

Youth interested in sustainability careers won’t want to miss the upcoming 4-H Climate Career Panel on Friday, May 16. Sustainable Stillwater MN proudly supports this inspiring event.


Participants will hear directly from professionals working in climate-related fields such as urban planning, data analysis, and environmental science. It’s an excellent opportunity to explore how real careers contribute to solving the climate crisis—and how young people can begin their own journey toward a green future.


Friday, May 16, 2025 | 5:30 – 7:00 PM

Ramsey County Extension Office, 2020 White Bear Ave, Maplewood, MN 55109

Open to students in grades 8+ and their families

Bonus: Free food provided!


By supporting events like this, Sustainable Stillwater MN furthers its mission to foster a healthier, more resilient community. Connecting youth with climate-focused careers helps bridge the gap between concern and action—at both local and global levels.



Let’s keep the momentum going.


By encouraging youth of all genders to participate in public decision-making, pursue climate careers, and vote with the environment in mind, we build a stronger foundation for long-term change.


The future is watching. Let’s give it something to believe in.

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