Trailblazers in the Climate Space: Celebrating Women Leaders

Article written in cross-collaboration by Alessandra Vega , Kat (Kirsten) Taylor , and Mamta Mehra PhD

In the journey towards planet positive solutions, women have often been the quiet yet? powerful force driving change. In honor of World Environment today, we are celebrating the trailblazing women leaders who are not only breaking barriers but also inspiring a new era of climate action - nurturing hope for a regenerative future.?

In this article we honor the remarkable women who have come before us, celebrate the formidable women leaders among us, and emphasize the importance of fostering the next generation of female trailblazers. Above all, we pay tribute to the collective strength and achievements of these women, highlighting their direct and indirect contributions towards the environment and their role in fostering a resilient society for humanity.

We hope this post fills you with hope, inspiration, and positivity (if you are wondering if it is possible - it is)!?

Vulnerable to Climate Change, Yet Vital to Climate Solutions

Women are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis, yet often play crucial roles as leaders in both local and global solutions.

Despite women’s vulnerability to climate change, women are not merely passive victims; they are also active, effective agents of adaptation and mitigation.?

Historically, women have developed extensive knowledge and skills in many areas of the climate space including education, food systems, conservation, and beyond. These abilities position them as key leaders in the work to overcome climate change and advance climate and regenerative solutions.

Today we are recognizing the women who came before us, the women who are with us now, and the women who will come after us in the climate space.?

Making Her-Story in the Climate Space and Beyond

Recently, Mexico chose a historic new path by electing Claudia Sheinbaum as president. Not only is she the first woman to hold this position in Mexico, she is also a climate scientist and IPCC author. Her ascent to Mexico’s presidency heralds a new era of climate-conscious leadership. For example, Sheinbaum is focused on facilitating a clean energy transition and to catalyzing investment in mass infrastructure.?

As president, Sheinbaum has a remarkable opportunity to apply her credentials as she leverages her position to enhance the future of millions of people in the world. Isn't this both exciting and inspiring? We need more leaders like Claudia Sheinbaum to guide us towards a regenerative future.

And she is just one example.?

Sheinbaum is not walking alone.?

Halla Tomasdottir, a distinguished businesswoman and investor, has emerged as Iceland's newly elected president. Not only is she a pioneering figure in politics, but she is also a staunch advocate for climate action as chief executive of The B Team.?

The B Team champions economic systems change, the establishment of new corporate norms to safeguard our natural environment, and ensuring a safe, sustainable, and equitable future for all. Tomasdottir is bringing these values and visions into her presidency.

The global stage is also home to other leaders like the former Prime Minister of New Zealand - the Rt. Hon. Dame Jacinda Ardern - who previously declared that climate change was her “generation’s nuclear free moment”.?

Back in 2020 Arden joined other nations to definitively declare climate change is the emergency of our times - not a hypothetical problem that we should consider solving one day. She called for people to transcend politics - an important challenge as in a world where politics are in everything. Before her departure as Prime Minister she said, ‘Climate change is a crisis. It is upon us, and so one of the very few things I will ask of this House on my departure is that you please take the politics out of climate change.’

As the decisive decade for climate action dawns, women deserve a seat at the table.?

Take former Prime Minister of Finland, Sanna Marin, as another example.?

She not only specialized in geopolitics, but also climate action and female leadership. At the age of 34, Sanna became Finland's youngest-ever prime minister! In her role as prime minister, she continued to position Finland as a climate leader?

In her role as prime minister, she continued to position Finland as a climate leader by showing other nations it is possible to go beyond focusing on carbon emissions - it is possible to set a more ambitious goal of aiming to be carbon neutral by 2035 and setting a benchmark for regenerative development.?

At RegenIntel, we are constantly inspired by the women near and far who are working towards climate solutions and climate actions while advocating for those that do not have a seat at the table (yet).

Fortitude in the Face of Intimidation

In this pivotal moment, as we stand at the threshold of a critical decade for climate action, it is imperative that we recognize the indispensable role of women in driving sustainable change - especially women of color.?

While we would love to highlight hundreds more, we would like to end by highlighting Francia Márquez.?

At just thirteen years old, Francia Márquez embarked on a lifelong journey as a champion for her community's ancestral land rights in the Cauca region of Colombia.

Years later in 2014, when faced with the threat of thousands of illegal miners constructing a dam, Márquez took decisive action. Leaving her studies behind, she returned to La Toma to confront the destructive forces head-on.

Márquez's unwavering courage and leadership inspired not only her community, but women across the region. Eighty women, many of whom had never ventured beyond their small town, joined her cause, marching for ten days and camping out in front of Congress.

Her story is a testament to the power of standing up for what you believe. Márquez's tireless advocacy and determination culminated in her historic election as Colombia's first Black vice president in 2022.?

Márquez's story is not just one of personal achievement; it is a call to action for structural systems change. Her journey is a source of inspiration for those committed to creating lasting systemic transformation worldwide.

Her experience demonstrates how mere forums and recommendations are insufficient for change; what is needed are fundamental shifts that dismantle systems of colonization and structural violence and discrimination. Her vision extends beyond her own success, advocating for a future where all people, especially those of African descent, can live with dignity and equality.

As we confront intimidation with fortitude and respond to the urgent need for change, we must prioritize equity and inclusion by actively listening and dismantling patriarchal norms. Diverse voices are essential for crafting holistic solutions across all sectors. Women and people of color must have more than token representation. We need them to have equitable access to multiple seats at the table with the true power to impact the decisions that are made. It is only with this true sharing of power and of leadership that the diverse voices can craft solutions that transform our society.

As we celebrate the accomplishments of leaders like Márquez, we recognize that true change is driven by individuals who dare to challenge the status quo and envision a more just and equitable world for all beings. Whether these are leaders celebrated on the world stage (like the many we have uplifted here) or leaders quietly, powerfully advancing change in their own community - this is the work of true transformation.??

?? As we conclude this article, we invite you to join us in celebrating the remarkable women leaders who inspire us. Please share the name of one woman leader who has had a profound impact on you and whom you admire for her leadership, courage, and contributions to society. Let's continue to honor and uplift the voices of women who are making a difference in our world.

?? Happy World Environment Day! Here's to the power of women's leadership!