Women are Leading the Way in Climate Action and Disaster Response
Hurricane Dorian left 58 people dead, at least 70,000 people homeless, and damage estimated at more than $7 million. The strongest hurricane on record to hit The Bahamas since 1851, the impact was nothing short of devastating. Not too long ago, we had Hurricane Harvey in Houston and Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. According to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, 8 of the 10 costliest hurricanes on record in the United States have occurred since 2004.
The strength and frequency of hurricanes, along with floods and other natural disasters, is increasing. A new study from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, estimates that by 2050, 200 million people will need humanitarian aid annually, and responding to these emergencies could reach $20 billion a year.
Why It Makes Sense for Women to Lead
Although women around the world, including young women like Greta Thunberg, are stepping forward and taking leadership in climate action, there is still underrepresentation when it comes to policy decision making. Yet with 70% living in poverty, women are disproportionately affected by climate change, increasingly resulting in natural disasters, pollution, and other destruction.
And it’s not just the women who are most vulnerable. Last year, The World Health Organization reported that 700,000 children under five die each year as a result of air pollution, which is aggravated by climate change.
In addition to having first-hand experience with the effects of climate change, as caretakers of their families — and often of their communities as well — women have both an empathetic and practical approach to creating solutions. These are vital qualities that are needed in policy around climate change.
Policymaking is only one arena where women can show leadership. Increasingly, the private sector has an important role to play in innovating crisis response. Startups in particular are in a unique situation because of their drive to create and provide innovative solutions.
Women-Led Companies and Organizations at the Forefront of Climate Response
NeedsList was started in 2015 by Natasha Freidus and Amanda Levinson as a way for communities impacted by conflict and climate-driven displacement to get their needs met directly and at scale. But we’re just one of several women-owned organizations leading the charge to respond to climate change.
Sarah Tuneberg founded the company Geospiza after 15-years of emergency management experience as a leading national expert in vulnerability. She saw first-hand how poor decision-making and lack of data-driven efforts directly contributed to devastating human loss and financial instability. They provide two main solutions: a risk assessment platform that enables action to reduce climate and natural hazard risks, and a climate risk visualization tool that allows customers to view their assets.
Based in Oakland, CA, Meena Palaniappan started Atma Connect as a nonprofit in 2014 to build resilience in low-income urban communities. Using technology, they’ve created a neighborhood-level social network app where users can share real-time information about fires, floods and crime — as well as offer advice and solutions about jobs, education and health.
A public benefit corporation, Jumpstart is a surplus lines insurance broker founded in 2015 by Kate Stillwell, with a mission to help people build financial resilience to natural disasters. Unlike conventional earthquake insurance that is designed to cover significant loss, Jumpstart’s goal is to quickly cover immediate needs after the quake through automatic cash deposits of $10,000 into the insured’s bank account.
Are there other women-led organizations or companies that are making a positive impact in climate change and disaster response that you would like us to highlight? Let us know! We’d love to hear from you.
