State/Government: Women in Power

NORGAARD & YORK

“Since there are clear theoretical reasons to expect that gender equality may be connected to support for environmental protection, we empirically assess the relationship between representation of women in Parliament and state environmentalism. We use state participation in international environmental treaties as our indicator of state environmentalism”

(Pg. 510, Gender and Society, Norgaard and York)

Norgaard and York believed that the environment is interconnected with gender equality and the environment. Progressive societies tend to offer more support and campaign for gender and racial equality, economic and scientific advancement, as well as environmental prevention and management. Because progressive societies tend to focus on gender equality, it would make sense that women in power would then focus on progressive issues; such as environmental concern. They are all interconnected.

(www.wedo.org)

(https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/gender-differences-in-public-understanding-of-climate-change/)

 

ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ & THE GREEN NEW DEAL

      As I’m sure many of you are already familiar with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), she is the mastermind behind the ‘Green New Deal’. The Green New Deal is a package brought for by AOC that proposes legislation that addresses climate change and economic inequality. The Green New Deal suggests approaches such as resource efficiency and renewable energy.

AOC perfectly epitomizes what Norgaard and York were suggesting in their writing. She is a progressive politician who surprisingly won her seat in Congress. From gaining power in the government, she has gone on to address issues such as socioeconomic inequality and the poor state of our environment.

HILDA HEINE & THE CLIMATE VULNERABLE FORUM

Hilda Heine is another perfect example of women in government seeking active solution to environmental ailments. Hilda Heine is the president of the Marshall Islands and the head of the Climate Vulnerable Forum. The Climate Vulnerable Forum is  a global alliance of countries that are disproportionately affected by global warming. The forum addresses these negative effects and seeks to find resolution to aiding the problems.

Hilda Heine has also strongly campaigned carbon-free emissions. She was the first leader to sign an emissions pledge with the Paris Agreement. Her goal is for the Marshall Islands to become carbon-neutral by the year 2050.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

•  Image of Women’s Leadership ‘Full Cirlce’, www.wedo.org
• “The Green New Deal is a package brought for by AOC that proposes legislation that addresses climate change and economic inequality. The Green New Deal suggests approaches such as resource efficiency and renewable energy. ” https://www.npr.org/2019/02/07/691997301/rep-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-releases-green-new-deal-outline
• https://time.com/5669038/women-climate-change-leaders/
• www.thecvf.org
• https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/gender-differences-in-public-understanding-of-climate-change/