Women Crusading For A Greener Atlanta
This ongoing series will highlight the women making an impact in sustainability in Atlanta.
Women are playing a crucial role in climate change adaptation and mitigation. All over the world empowered women are using their problem-solving skills to work towards a cleaner future. Assertive women of all ages are rising to the task of environmental sustainability. Isra Hirsi of Minneapolis, MN is just 16 years old and already co-founded the U.S. Youth Climate Strike. Longtime activist Jane Fonda is 85 years young and still advocating in Washington for change. Jane Fonda Climate PAC is pursuing the removal of fossil fuel supporters in our government and replacing them with innovators supporting a green future.
As reported by Michelle Simard in our own Livable Buckhead newsletter, the global not-for-profit Carbon Disclosure Project named Atlanta a world leader in climate action. Climate transitions are about people and at its center the challenge of gender equality. With obvious global gender disparities, the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) found climate variability has further exaggerated these inequalities. On November 14th, 2022, Gender Day at the COP27, the U.S. announced a plan to address the disproportionate impacts of climate crises on women and girls while empowering them to be climate leaders. One of the initiatives revealed correlates directly to the empowerment of female climate leaders and activists. The Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues will be focusing on a global network of females working to lead climate solutions in their communities and advocate for policy change at both local and international levels. Women possess a unique perspective, especially at a local level, it is inherent they are given a seat at the decision-making table. Increased transparency around climate impact in the workplace is associated with women in leadership positions. Participation of women in biosphere resource management is interrelated with better resource governance and conservation outcomes.
For women to climb the business ladder while creatively solving the broken rung obstructing their path is challenging. In the U.S. last year, women only held 35% of the senior leadership positions but accounted for 58.4% of the workforce. Men earned 47.4% more than women having identical qualifications. In 2022, Georgia executive officers were just 12% female. One of eight represent senior management level in Georgia. Studies have found that women are held to higher standards in the workplace while still being considered too weak to be in top positions. Empowering women in the economy and closing gender gaps in the world are key to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Atlanta is making moves to become a global model for green sustainable cities with positive healthy resources promoting social cohesion.
Women leaders contributing to short and long-term solutions for climate change in the ATL need to be celebrated and recognized. Sharing their stories and the path they blazed to becoming an effective female leader will inspire other female entrepreneurs, establish new gender norms, educating others can create hope, and the undisputable positive power of human connection and resilience. Follow us as we highlight the stories of assertive women leaders making strides towards a more sustainable and healthier Atlanta.
Teresa Perkins is a climate change and sustainability journalist, who is creating research-based climate change content pertaining to sustainable energy at local, national, and global level for publication and distribution. She partners with non-profit organizations for innovative ideas and sustainability projects and connects global UN Climate Change reports to local initiatives.
