Introduction:

While climate change is a global issue, it is often marginalized communities that bear the brunt of its effects. The fight against climate change has been led by many inspiring women, some of whom are not as well-known as others. In this blog post, we will highlight a few of these unsung heroes who have been working tirelessly to combat the effects of climate change in the United States.

Who is fighting climate change?

Read the below:

Peggy Shepard:

Peggy Shepard is a co-founder and executive director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice, an organization that seeks to improve environmental health and quality of life for low-income and people of color in New York City. Shepard has been working on environmental justice issues for over 30 years and has been instrumental in bringing attention to the disproportionate impact of pollution and climate change on marginalized communities.

Catherine Flowers:

Catherine Flowers is an environmental activist and the founder of the Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice. She has been fighting for environmental justice and access to clean water and sanitation in rural communities in the American South for over two decades. Flowers has been recognized for her work by the MacArthur Foundation, which awarded her a “genius grant” in 2020.

Kim Wasserman:

Kim Wasserman is the executive director of the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization in Chicago. She has been working to address environmental issues in low-income and communities of color for over 20 years. Wasserman played a key role in successfully blocking a proposed coal plant in Chicago in 2012, which would have significantly increased the city’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Jacqueline Patterson:

Jacqueline Patterson is the director of the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program. She has been working on environmental justice issues for over a decade and has been a vocal advocate for policies that address the disproportionate impact of climate change on communities of color. Patterson has also been recognized for her work by the MacArthur Foundation, which awarded her a “genius grant” in 2018.

Varshini Prakash:

Varshini Prakash is a climate activist and the co-founder and executive director of the Sunrise Movement, a youth-led organization that advocates for political action on climate change. Prakash has been instrumental in organizing and mobilizing young people to demand action on climate change and was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2019.

Conclusion:

These women are just a few of the many unsung heroes who have been working tirelessly to combat climate change and promote environmental justice in the United States. They have been instrumental in bringing attention to the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalized communities and have inspired others to take action. It is important to recognize their contributions and support their efforts to create a more just and sustainable future for us all.