Changemakers for the Planet: Inspiring Women Making a Difference in Sustainability
Previously, women were affected by climate change more than men. Why? Because whenever a disaster struck, the majority of the world’s poor communities consisted of women. These women had less or no access to decision-making, resources, and education.
However, the tables have turned completely upside down in a constructive and positive way. Women have been proven to have a high demand for sustainability-focused roles and higher levels of socialization. Furthermore, women are considered a paramount part of the solution to climate change and other sustainability challenges that the world has to face. Women are becoming more conscious and ethical towards environmental issues, and they are igniting their way through massive growth in industries related to sustainability.
The world is filled with many amazing, successful, and zealous changemakers who are women and are willing to do anything for their planet. Therefore, here’s a small selection of all the outstanding women who are doing their bit for the environment and creating a positive impact, with their heads held high.
INSPIRING WOMEN IN SUSTAINABILITY
Here’s a list of inspiring women who are creating a sustainable future:
Isatou Ceesay
Isatou Ceesay, also known as the Queen of Recycling, is a Gambian activist who is known for converting garbage into marvelous pieces through her recycling movement, popularly known as One Plastic Bag. Previously, Ceesay was a volunteer in the Peace Corps. She used her knowledge to teach women how to recycle purses and plastic bags into bags and rucksacks. After this, N’jau Recycling and Income Generation Group was introduced, which helped hundreds of African women to earn a stable income, and also led to the improvement of plastic waste problems in Isatou Ceesay’s community. She also won a TIAW “Difference Maker” award in Washington, DC. Ceesay also wrote a book with the hope that it will inspire and create a zeal among people to become changemakers.
Helen Clarkson
Helen Clarkson, the current CEO of The Climate Group and founder of Forum For The Future, has been nothing but a successful champion and a great leader when it comes to sustainability. Forum For The Future is a non-profit organization that collaborates and works with various businesses to build a sustainable future and create a positive impact on the planet. While working on this, Helen also created a sustainable coalition with brands such as Nike, Walmart, Target, Levi Strauss, PepsiCo, Gap Inc, and various non-governmental organizations which includes The Rockefeller Foundations, Forest Stewardship Council, and the Rainforest Alliance.
Vandana Shiva
Vandana Shiva, also known as the “Gandhi of Grain”, “eco-warrior goddess” and the leader of the anti-GMO movement, has been helping the planet for decades and preserving the traditions and cultures which make the world beautifully diverse. Shiva is a strong believer that ‘food and culture are the currencies of life’. She aims to end world hunger, seek rights for farmers, and make people realize that food is the currency of life. She is the founder of Navdanya and the Research Foundation for Science, Technology, and Natural Resource Policy. She aims to take on big agriculture and fight for the farmer’s rights which they aren’t getting. She is strictly against big companies controlling the food sector in the economy.
Janice Lao
Janice Lao is a developmental economist and environmental scientist with a unique combination of cross-discipline and thorough scientific knowledge and the ability to connect with people immediately. She has been in this industry for 20 years, won multiple awards for her work, was named in Forbes’ 46 sustainable leaders, and has been thriving since then. Janice Lao was also the first Asian to win the youngest winner of the Edie Sustainability Leader of the year award. She is one of the most courageous and exceptional business leaders who attempts to do new things and think out of the box to make this world a better place.
Greta Thunberg
Greta Thunberg is an 18-year-old courageous girl who is not like other kids and has already accomplished big things in life by making a positive impact on the planet. When Greta was 15, she began a movement known as Fridays For Future, which was led by youth for the lack of action on the climate crisis. Society was unwilling to take action for the climate crisis which made Greta take necessary actions and she started a strike for it. On 8th December, her fellow schoolmates joined her on the strike and they created the hashtag #FridaysForFuture, which encouraged youth to join in the strike which became a global protest against climate change. Greta publicly called out the leaders who were not doing enough for the climate crisis.In 125 countries, more than one million people of Fridays For Future stood to protest against climate change in the year 2019.
It is evident that women are making a significant contribution towards sustainability and environmental conservation. Women’s empowerment is a critical factor in achieving sustainable development, as they play a major role in our lives, from taking care of their families and doing household chores to protecting the environment. The women leaders mentioned earlier, including environmental activists, founders, innovators, and environmental scientists, are doing their best to make the planet a better place, and their work will be remembered in history towards a sustainable and bright future.
