(5)
Ecofeminist principles may be applied to analyze government actions and policies. Norgaard and York describe ecofeminist principles and strategies regarding state and government issues by examining how bodies of government (National Parliament) that have higher representation of women are more likely to tackle environmental degradation issues such as climate change. They suggest that counties with higher gender equality make more efforts to protect the environment for two main reasons:
- Studies have shown that there is a gender gap for environmental issues, meaning women are more likely than men to be supportive of preventing environmental degradation.
- There are links between environmental degradation and gender discrimination (sexism)
They conclude that “if women tend to be more environmentally progressive, the inclusion of women as equal members of society—as voters, citizens, policymakers, and social movement participants—should positively influence state behavior” (1). I like this statement because I agree with it entirely. I will talk about a few women in government that can be used as evidence to support this claim.
An article published by the NY Times focuses on the connection between Climate Change and Women’s Rights. Zandile Gumedehe, the first female mayor of Durban South Africa, is working hard to involve women in combating climate change, especially because in her country women are under represented in government and science (2). She partners with universities to get women educated in science as a way to combat this under representation. This article highlights how women in developing counties such as Durban, South Africa are more susceptible to the negative impacts of climate change, such as drought, because women oftentimes “collect water, food and firewood, and to cook meals — and therefore feel the brunt of extreme weather, disappearing water resources and soil degradation” (2).
Women Combating Climate Change in South Africa
The newly elected United States House Representative, Alexandria Ocasio-Corte, co-sponsored a newly proposed legislation called the Green New Deal. She and many other newly elected women of the house have disrupted the male dominated government by quickly acting on important issues such as climate change. The Green New Deal (which was rejected by the republican dominated US. Senate) would focus on combating climate change and addressing economic inequality. Here are a few goals of the GND:
- “Meeting 100 percent of the power demand in the United States through clean, renewable, and zero-emission energy sources” (3).
- “Providing all people of the United States with — (i) high-quality health care; (ii) affordable, safe, and adequate housing; (iii) economic security; and (iv) access to clean water, clean air, healthy and affordable food, and nature” (3).
- “Overhauling transportation systems in the United States to eliminate pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector as much as is technologically feasible, including through investment in — (i) zero-emission vehicle infrastructure and manufacturing; (ii) clean, affordable, and accessible public transportation; and (iii) high-speed rail” (3).
- “Spurring massive growth in clean manufacturing in the United States and removing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing and industry as much as is technologically feasible” (3).
- “Working collaboratively with farmers and ranchers in the United States to eliminate pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector as much as is technologically feasible” (3).
Anyone who actively follows politics would not be surprised to hear that this plan was rejected by the republican dominated senate, which only has 25 females currently represented. Climate change is real and its effects can be felt all over the world, including the United States. I hope women like Ocasio-Corte don’t get discouraged by the current administration and senate having large investments in the fossil fuel industry. We need women like her to help confront this issue because the fossil fuel industry can be traced to the leading cause of climate change. This scientific evidence can be found in the United Nations Climate Report.
Bonus: A Kenyan environmental and women’s rights organization The Green Belt Movement focuses on helping Kenyan women who make a long journey to collect limited supplies of water and gather firewood. They bring women together to “grow seedlings and plant trees to bind the soil, store rainwater, and provide food and firewood” (5). The Green Belt Movement has planted over 51 million trees in an effort to protect and restore the Kenyan forests! This group empowers women, gives them hope, work, and combats environmental degradation. This was found in a very interesting publication called Women and Climate Change. Its filled with useful information that pertains to this topic and inspires hope because there are so many women currently addressing this issue.
Citations:
1. Norgaad, Kari, and Richard York. Gender Equality and State Environmentalism. Gender and Society, pages.uoregon.edu/norgaard/pdf/Gender-Equality-Norgaard-York-2005.pdf.
2. Tugend, Alina. “Women’s Crucial Role in Combating Climate Change.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 1 Apr. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/04/01/us/womens-crucial-role-in-combating-climate-change.html.
3 “Green New Deal.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Mar. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_New_Deal.
4. “Climate Change.” United Nations, United Nations, www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/climate-change/.
5. Photo Credits: http://humansarefree.com/2014/07/10-ways-you-can-connect-to-mother-earth.html
