4 Women Who Made a Difference

Above - Wangari Maathai: “It’s little things citizens do that will make the difference… My little thing is planting trees.”

While there is still a long way ahead of us in our efforts to help nature and fight against climate change, many activists are stepping up everyday to make a difference.

Countless women around the world have taken a stand for the environment. For Women’s Month, we want to recognize and celebrate the huge contributions of these four environmentalists and how they’ve made a difference in the world.

Jane Addams

The first woman to ever be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, Jane was essential in finding environmental health concerns and advocating for environmental equality for all people, regardless of income or ethnicity. She and her team uncovered lead poisoning and industrial poisons in many low-income communities.

For over 40 years, Vandana Shiva has been promoting biodiversity in agriculture and fighting for farmer incomes. 

Vandana Shiva

In her college years, Vandana researched science, technology, and environmental policy at the Indian Institute of Science and the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore and later established an international college for sustainable living. In 1991, she established her mission, Navdanya, and has educated farmers across India of the value of diverse and individualized crops, and has mounted activist campaigns on issues like biotechnology, bioethics, and genetic engineering.

Wangari Maathai

Based in Kenya, Wangari studied biology as an undergraduate and graduate. Later she developed the Green Belt Program that was designed to teach women sustainable land use practices. She has trained over 30,000 women and planted over 51 million trees. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her incredible efforts.

Environmentalist and economist, Winona LaDuke's advocating for Native American land claims and sustainable development.  

Winona is an environmental and political activist in the Indigenous community fighting for sustainable development, renewable energy, climate change, and environmental justice. She’s the founder of two major organizations, White Earth Land Recovery Project and Honor The Earth. She was named Woman of the Year by Ms. Magazine in 1997 and 10 years later, was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

While these amazing women have dedicated their time and lives to the greater well-being of our Earth, we still have a long way to go. It’s up to each and every one of us to make a difference.

This is part one of our weekly series for Women’s Month, to honor the amazing women that have done so much to take care of our planet and spread awareness.