The future of sustainability? Women!
राष्ट्रस्य श्व: नारी अस्ति Woman is our tomorrow
WOMEN AND SUSTAINABILITY: THE CO-RELATION
Sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is maintaining the balance between the environment, equity, and economy
Sustainability presumes that resources are finite, and should be used conservatively and wisely with a view to long-term priorities and consequences of the ways in which resources are used. In simplest terms, sustainability is about our children and our grandchildren, and the world we will leave them.
I believe sustainability is an emotion and we all know how good women are at emotions.
They can connect more easily with people and tend to be more empathetic. With these gifts at hand, women can make a positive impact on the socio-economic atmosphere in society.
Women are in the best position to spread awareness and generate willingness in others about sustainability. As it is rightly said, if you educate a woman, you educate a family. A woman can bring about a change not only in her family but also in her community and society at large.
According to the International Institute for Environment and Development, there are several reasons why women have an important role to play in sustainable development, including that they are key managers of natural resources and agents of change and that they have a valuable, different perspective to incorporate.
Research suggests that women have higher levels of socialization to care about others and be socially responsible, which then leads them to care about environmental problems and be willing to adopt environmental behaviors.
Another study published by Malmo University, Leadership for Sustainability is Female, examines the notion that female leaders are better for sustainability as gender socialization equips women with competencies required for considerate and holistic problem solving and seeing beyond purely economic benefits. While the claims are still debatable, one cannot deny that the emergence of female leaders is already creating a positive impact on global sustainability initiatives.
Top women leaders from the world of finance, Anshula Kant, Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer, The World Bank Group, Kaku Nakhate, President & Country Head, Bank of America have implemented several long-term sustainability solutions within their arena of work.
WOMEN AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Circular Economy is one of the greatest tools for practicing sustainability or you can say Sustainability is half done when you are practicing circular economy.
Basically, circular economy is reusing products, rather than scrapping them and then extracting new resources. It is based on common sense, wisdom, care and inventiveness. These are things that millions of women across the world demonstrate daily in their struggle to support their families and communities.
There is a great bond between Women and the Circular economy. There is no denying that women tend to reuse more products rather than buying fresh ones except buying new dresses for themselves. Whether it is using old or used clothes to make carry bag or doormat or pillow cover or as curtain you, name it and women are ready with their pool of ideas.
And hence, women are more likely to recycle, minimise waste, buy organic food and eco-labelled products and engage in water and energy savings initiatives at the household level.
Women are key managers of natural resources and powerful agents of change. They can be engaged more intensely as pivotal actors in the road to sustainability and green transformation.
The circular economy provides us with amazing opportunities to introduce new ethical norms in business and fine-tune the balance between profit and social responsibility. Women leaders in various industries are already proving they are ready to go the extra mile to achieve more sustainable business practices coupled with a positive social impact.
Engaging women in the circular economy – raising awareness on sustainable consumption and encouraging participation in leadership and managerial roles – is indispensable to create good circular systems”- UNECE
WOMEN AND ESG INVESTING
The financial sector has long been dominated by men, with very few women on the frontlines of the fund management industry. However, there is one area where women are taking the lead: ESG investing
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria are a set of standards for a company’s operations that socially conscious investors use to screen potential investments.
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria are an increasingly popular way for investors to evaluate companies in which they might want to invest.
Studies show that women are more willing to accept the higher risk or lower return from investments in companies that have positive impacts on the world.
Women are economic powerhouses. They create, they control and they influence a huge amount of wealth.
More women want to learn about sustainability to positively contribute to the environment, society, and the future of humanity, compared to men.
Not surprisingly, studies show women value the principles behind ESG investing.
However, when we talk about investing in general, the gender gap in India is wider, with women making up just 21 out of 100 investors.
INSPIRING WOMEN IN SUSTAINABILITY
1. Vandana Shiva:
aka the “Gandhi of grain”—is an ecologist, physicist, and activist who has been working to better the planet for years. An Indian scholar, environmental activist, and world-renowned author among other things, Vandana Shiva has been touted as one of the leading voices in the field of green living. One of her most noted works includes her advocacy for Ecofeminism, a political theory that promotes a collaborative environmental society—demanding for women to be considered equal and active members.
2. Isatou Ceesay:
Isatou Ceesay—a Gambian activist who you may know as the “Queen of Recycling”—quite literally turned trash into treasure through her recycling movement called One Plastic Bag.
3. Sunita Narain:
Her influential work has earned her multiple accolades, including the coveted Padma Shri award. The activist currently juggles the roles of director-general at the Centre for Science and Environment research institute and that of an editor at Down To Earth, a magazine centered on environmental politics and development.
4. Jamuna Tudu:
One of the fiercest voices to combat environmental degradation, Jamuna Tudu is popularly known as “Lady Tarzan”—a title recognized by many institutions including the United Nations India. Tudu has since been recognized for her bravery and efforts to protect the environment across India with awards like the Padma Shri, and Women Transforming India.
CONCLUSION
There is an urgent need for sustainable development we cannot wait more. We are already running short of time. Practicing sustainability doesn’t seem like it should be more for women than men, but more and more studies are showing that although many men do the same, it is predominantly a practice for women.
Simply put, the research confirms that women recycle more, are more likely to support environmental regulations, know more about the scientific aspects of climate change, and are more likely to express concern about its effects.
So, what else do we need for a sustainable future? A Concern backed by the action in need is what we are looking for.
It’s time for the better halves for building a better planet.
Author Bio
Very well written. Thank you for sharing this.