The link between female leadership and sustainability is not often made – and yet, it is paramount to future proofing our planet.
Globally, only 34 women serve as heads of government and state in 31 countries. At the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt last year, only seven of the 110 leaders present were female while less than 34% of countries’ negotiation staff were female with some teams made up of more than 90% males. These delegations participate in negotiations on key climate issues such as limiting fossil fuel use and funding.
Women also have less of a voice when it comes to reporting on climate change with recent data showing just 27% of voices quoted in online climate change news belonged to women.
This indicates the tough road ahead – with some experts saying that gender equality will take another 130 years if we continue at this rate. But perhaps, what’s needed is to look back, and reflect on female representation and contribution according to history.
Cultural proof
Mythologically, females have been connected to nature for thousands of years. In Inca mythology, for example, Mama Pacha or ‘Pachamama’ is a fertility goddess who presides over planting and harvesting. ‘Mother Nature’ is the personification of a life-giving force, and the word ‘nature’ comes from the latin word ‘natura’ – meaning’ to give birth or character’. Our Earth, and its natural forces, are the perfect balance of strength and femininity.
When we look closer to home, the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ culture (the world’s oldest surviving one) and their Indigenous women, have played a crucial role in the protection and preservation of Country.
Indeed, the very safety of our planet is dependent on balance. This balance is a cornerstone idea at Veolia where we call it Ecological Transformation. In short, it means we must give back what we take, replenish what we use, and preserve what we can. Right now, the balance is grossly out of whack, and we’re feeling the consequences worldwide.
Call me an optimist ― and maybe that’s because I see ecologically transformative ideas being produced on a regular basis at Veolia ― but I believe this can be turned around. What we need for our future are the brightest minds, the best contributions and the most passionate people. It matters not who they are, or where they come from. But right now, the balance of female voices is not representative. It’s inequitable.
More than ever, it’s more important for the voices of women to be heard. We need female engineers, scientists and marketers. We need female operators, logistics experts, engineers and ecologists. We need sustainability experts, policy makers, writers and lawyers. We all have a role to play, and something of value to offer to our planet.
Promote women’s representation in climate policy and decision making
Today, I believe we are paying the price for a lack of diversity in female education over the years. And the UN states, “Women are increasingly being recognised as more vulnerable to climate change impacts than men, as they constitute the majority of the world’s poor and are more dependent on the natural resources which climate change threatens the most.” As climate impacts are felt, it’s the most disadvantaged among us that will be paying the biggest price.
Facilitate narratives that inspire women to pursue careers in STEM
In Australia, just 15% of STEM qualified jobs are held by women and just 23% of senior management roles and 8% of CEOs in STEM qualified industries are women. And women are getting paid less ― in 2022 the gap between men and women’s pay in STEM industries was $27,012 or 17%.
Thankfully, we are seeing some progress. As the mother of a young daughter, I’m delighted that in Australia girls currently make up the majority of students in many year 12 STEM subjects, including in the fields of biological sciences, earth sciences, chemical sciences and agricultural and environmental studies. In Veolia, women are playing a greater part in our business every day, from the teams on the ground right up to the C-suite where our CEO is Estelle Brachlianoff. But I live in a privileged world and work in a forward thinking company, and this is time to consider what we can all do to raise our voices for those who are less heard, who have less opportunity, but just as much to give.
To tackle climate change, bring about ecological transformation and take on the other sustainability challenges that confront today’s organisations, leaders must acknowledge the interconnectedness of these issues and seek integrated solutions to achieve greater female participation in higher levels of management ― it’s very simple, women can’t aspire to be what they can’t see.
So here’s to balance, and the ‘mother nature’ within all of us – the fierce protector of Mother Planet, and preserver of parity.