Women4Climate

Overview of the Women4Climate program:

The Women4Climate Toronto Mentorship Program, led by the City of Toronto, is designed to nurture and empower women, trans women, and two-spirit climate leaders who are committed to driving environmental change. The program connects emerging leaders with experienced mentors in the fields of climate action, business, policy, and sustainable development, allowing them to build skills, refine their projects, and gain insights into the field of climate leadership. Program participants benefit from a structured six-month mentorship experience that includes Knowledge Labs, which are educational sessions led by experts on various climate and leadership topics, and multiple networking events with other climate leaders and professionals. The program culminates in a pitch competition where participants present their climate projects to a panel of judges, competing for cash prizes to help bring their initiatives to life. The program aims to bolster the capacity of Toronto's climate leaders by enhancing their projects' impact and scaling their solutions within the community.

Benefits of the Women4Climate program:

• Participants in the Women4Climate Toronto Mentorship Program gain:
• Access to one-on-one mentorship with established climate leaders and professionals
• Educational sessions (Knowledge Labs) on climate topics and leadership skills
• Networking opportunities with industry professionals and other climate advocates
• The chance to participate in a pitch competition with cash prizes up to $20,000

Eligibility criteria of the Women4Climate program:

• Eligible candidates must:
• Identify as women, trans women, or 2-spirit,
• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Live, work, or study in the City of Toronto (opens in new window) or GTA (opens in new window).
• Have an established climate action project or a start-up business to grow with the support of the Women4ClimateTO Mentorship Program.
• Torontos population is made up of diverse communities and groups. The City of Toronto values the contributions made by all residents and is committed to its motto, Diversity Our Strength.
• The City of Toronto recognizes the barriers presented by discrimination and the disadvantages faced by equity-deserving groups and vulnerable populations. In particular, the City recognizes the unique status and cultural diversity of Indigenous communities and their right to self-determination.
• Women4ClimateTO acknowledges the importance of intersectionality and encourages applications from female-identifying and two-spirited applicants of diverse cultures, races, religions and abilities.
• The following individuals are not eligible to apply:
• City of Toronto employees, members of Council and their immediate families.
• City of Toronto agency and corporation employees, their board members and members of their immediate families.
• Members of the mentee selection panel and members of pitch competition jury panel and members of their immediate families.
• Mentees from the 2024 Women4ClimateTO Mentorship Program cohort.