Hillary Clinton Instagram – Investing in women works. Believing in women’s abilities and ideas works. And that will continue to be true as the world takes on the climate crisis.
I just returned from a trip to India where I got to see that truth in action. As part of Mumbai’s inaugural climate week, the Clinton Global Initiative team visited one of our partners in Ahmedabad: the Self Employed Women’s Association, or SEWA.
@sewa_sangathan was founded by Ela Bhatt in 1972 as a revolutionary experiment. It gave women small loans—what we now think of as microloans—to support their own businesses.
When I met Ela on my very first trip to India in 1995, SEWA had 140,000 members. As of this trip, it is 3.8 million women strong.
SEWA’s work has always remained rooted in dignity, fairness and the belief that womens’ creativity and determination can change the world. Because of that core belief, SEWA has grown and adapted to meet every moment. Now, these women and their community are taking on climate change.
Just one example: a new electric bike program called Wheels of Empowerment helps women in rural India gain opportunity through mobility. It establishes electric bike stations that provide access to affordable, sustainable, and accessible electric two-wheelers.
As Mumbai hosted its inaugural climate week—the first ever in the Global South—we have a chance to advance inclusive and actionable climate strategies that center Indian and other Global South perspectives. The Clinton Global Initiative is proud to be part of that work alongside our partners.
We are at an inflection point. This is the moment to support underserved women as they confront the climate crisis, and I am deeply grateful for the extraordinary work SEWA is doing every single day to lead that effort. | Posted on 23/Feb/2026 22:00:21
