Climate change is occurring at unprecedented rates, posing a severe threat to humans, animal species, marine life and global economies.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, great strides are made in science, technology and activism every day to combat this issue — and women are at the forefront of such progress.<\/p>\n
In this article, we highlight seven women who are \u201ckillin it\u201d in their efforts to fight climate change.<\/p>\n
Through various campaigns, projects and research initiatives, these women are making an impact that will change our world for the better.<\/p>\n
Executive Director of Sustainability, George Washington University<\/p>\n
U.S. Deputy Secretary of U.S. Department of Agriculture (2009-2013)<\/p>\n
Kathleen Merrigan<\/a> has a powerful legacy in sustainability, agriculture and politics.<\/p>\n Merrigan is a professor of public policy at George Washington University, and leads the GW Sustainability Collaborative and GW Food Institute.<\/p>\n Merrigan also serves as co-chair of AGree, and is a member of the board of directors of the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture and FoodCorps. In addition, she is a member of the steering committee of the Council of Environmental Deans and Directors of the National Council for Science and the Environment, and the United Nations Environment Programme initiative TEEB EcoAgriFood.<\/p>\n From 2009-2013, she served as the U.S. deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), during which she implemented a variety of programs to promote the health and wellbeing of our country.<\/p>\n During that time, Merrigan created and led the \u201cKnow Your Farmer, Know Your Food\u201d Initiative to support local food systems, had a key role in First Lady Michelle Obama\u2019s \u201cLet\u2019s Move!\u201d campaign, and became the first woman to chair the Ministerial Conference of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).<\/p>\n Before joining the USDA, Merrigan held many agriculture policy positions and drafted the law establishing national standards for organic food.<\/p>\n Due to the incredible size and scope of her work, Time Magazine<\/a> named Merrigan among the \u201cTop 100 influential people in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n In an interview with TUN<\/a>, Merrigan expressed her disappointment with the Trump administration’s decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement, and vowed to keep fighting to protect the environment despite the many political setbacks that environmentalists are faced with.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have no choice but to fight back with everything we have,\u201d Merrigan said.<\/p>\n \u201cTo state the obvious, the planet depends on it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEnvironmentalists may shift more attention to state and municipal government as solution centers for climate for the duration of this Administration,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t anticipate that this decision will impact university operations.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe science on climate is clear, irrefutable, and compelling. Colleges and universities will continue to reduce their carbon footprint. Our students demand nothing less.\u201d<\/p>\n Materials Science and Materials Engineering, University of Texas at Austin<\/p>\n Maria Helena Braga<\/a> is an assistant professor in the Engineering Physics Department at the University of Porto, Portugal, and is currently working on research areas in materials science and materials engineering at the University of Porto and University of Texas at Austin.<\/p>\n Alongside John Goodenough at UT, Braga is credited with creating a revolutionary, low-cost battery<\/a> that has the potential to store enough energy to power homes, boats and vehicles.<\/p>\n Braga has expanded on the understanding of glass electrolyte and glass batteries, which she hopes to use for the development of an all-electric road vehicle with the performance, cost and convenience that\u2019s competitive with vehicles powered by an internal combustion engine.<\/p>\n This powerful development would provide a more sustainable, environmentally friendly energy source and significantly cut back on car-administered air pollution that contributes to global warming.<\/p>\n When Goodenough first heard about her work, he convinced Braga to join his research team in Austin.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what he told TUN:<\/p>\n \u201cOur first task was to find out how to plate a dendrite-free metallic-lithium anode from a liquid, polymer, and\/or solid electrolyte. I had just solved that problem when Professor Maria Helena Braga of Porto, Portugal, brought to me a remarkable glass she had prepared.<\/p>\n \u201cNot only does her glass transport at room temperature alkali cations almost as fast as the liquid electrolyte, but it also contains a high dielectric constant indicative of the presence of electric dipoles.\u201d<\/p>\n Environment America, Director of Campaign for 100% Renewable Resources<\/p>\n Since 2015, Bronte Payne<\/a> has been working at Environment America, a national advocacy group that promotes awareness and education on environmental issues and solutions.<\/p>\n Payne is currently the director of Environment America\u2019s campaign<\/a> to get colleges and universities to commit to using 100 percent renewable energy.<\/p>\n Through this campaign, she has successfully moved Cornell University toward 100-percent renewable energy, and has renewed federal tax incentives for wind and solar energy.<\/p>\n In addition to her successful advocacy, Payne has co-authored a number of reports, including \u201cTurning to the Wind\u201d and \u201cRenewable Energy 100: A Course to a Carbon-Free Campus.\u201d<\/p>\n In reference to her university campaign, Payne previously told TUN, \u201cNow, more than ever, we need leadership.<\/p>\n \u201cWhich is why we are counting on the higher education community to lead, by committing to a rapid shift to clean energy.\u201d<\/p>\n Chief Sustainability Officer, Unity College<\/p>\n As the chief sustainability officer, Jennifer DeHart<\/a> provides leadership to Unity College\u2019s nationally recognized mission to educate environmental professionals.<\/p>\n In her work, DeHart has led sustainability efforts on college campuses around the country, including Harvard and Virginia Military Institute (VMI).<\/p>\n At VMI, DeHart executed $300,000 in non-capital projects related to energy and resource conservation, developed and managed a campus recycling program, and reviewed capital construction documents and specifications for energy and resource efficiency projects.<\/p>\n DeHart has also helped with Unity College\u2019s efforts to have zero waste<\/a> in it\u2019s dining and catering facilities.<\/p>\n With pride, DeHart spoke to TUN about the sustainability program at Unity College.<\/p>\n \u201cThe students, staff, and faculty at Unity College are eager to make a real, positive impact on their world, and I am proud that our Sustainability Team constantly looks for new ways to help our campus community minimize waste,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Assistant Director for Sustainability Initiatives, The New School<\/p>\n With the help of Molly Craft Johnson<\/a>, The New School in Manhattan has taken significant steps to advance environmental sustainability in NYC<\/a>.<\/p>\n In her work, Johnson is responsible for engaging students and supporting initiatives that promote campus-wide sustainability.<\/p>\n In February 2018, her office sponsored a university-wide, week-long program called \u201c<\/span>Disrupt Climate Injustice<\/span><\/a>.\u201d From February 26 to March 2, The New School disrupted regular curriculums and turned its attention to learning about the impacts of climate change. <\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, Johnson led the university in efforts to participate in the \u201cZero Waste Challenge,\u201d a goal for at least 50 percent waste diversion by 2030. Johnson helped contribute to this challenge by submitting data and feedback on waste streams.<\/p>\n \u201cEnvironmental sustainability is a core value at The New School,\u201d Johnson told TUN.<\/p>\n \u201cSustainability is a significant part of the campus culture. We take a holistic, multi-dimensional view of sustainability that considers a large array of interdependent factors: energy, waste, water, climate, academics and research, environmental justice, food, behavior and culture, health and wellness.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0 <\/b>Director of Sustainability, Temple University<\/p>\n Kathleen Grady <\/a>leads the Office of Sustainability at Temple University in implementing the university\u2019s Climate Action Plan.<\/p>\n Her responsibilities include advancing sustainability in the areas of transportation, energy conservation, energy efficiency, recycling, waste management and water conservation.<\/p>\n Grady recently helped implement the Temple Surplus<\/a>, a program that essentially functions as a central platform for collecting and redistributing all types of equipment, such as office chairs, tables, chairs, shelving, and filing cabinets. Any item that is not recycled for university use is either sold or donated.<\/p>\n The program was initiated as a means to reduce waste and encourage recycling.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we think about successful sustainability initiatives, we think of a surplus property program,\u201d Grady told TUN.<\/p>\n \u201cThe university is able to promote reuse, reduce waste and the associated hauling costs, and generate revenue to help keep Temple affordable and accessible for our students.\u201d<\/p>\n Student, Biochemistry and Environmental Studies major, UW-Madison<\/p>\n2. Maria Helena Braga<\/b><\/h2>\n
3. Bronte Payne<\/b><\/h2>\n
4. Jennifer DeHart<\/b><\/h2>\n
5. Molly Craft Johnson <\/b><\/h2>\n
\u00a06. Kathleen Grady <\/b><\/h2>\n
7. Leah Johnson <\/b><\/h2>\n