In the realm of science and technology, a concerning trend has emerged wherein young women appear to lose their motivation when pursuing careers in these fields. This phenomenon can be attributed to prevailing social perceptions and attitudes that restrict the potential capabilities of young women and their communities. Consequently, the pursuit of careers as female scientists, engineers, or researchers becomes unappealing and seemingly unattainable to many, resulting in a loss for women’s potential career paths and hindering the progress of science and technology overall.
A remarkable opportunity that appears to be overlooked, however, lies within the realm of climate entrepreneurship. The pressing need to preserve our planet necessitates the infusion of fresh perspectives and innovative ideas. The time to recruit new individuals to champion this cause is now, particularly given the imminent deadline to achieve climate goals, as highlighted by the United Nations.
While women encounter obstacles in STEM fields and entrepreneurship at large, they possess a unique role in the arena of climate entrepreneurship, especially in assisting other women worldwide. Women are disproportionately impacted by climate change as a more impoverished and underprivileged demographic. Consequently, female climate entrepreneurs have the potential to effect positive change in the lives of women affected by climate-related events.
The challenges faced by women in STEM and entrepreneurship encompass gender bias and stereotypes, lack of mentorship and role models, and disparities in funding. According to the UN Environment, 80% of individuals displaced by climate change are women and girls, placing them at a heightened risk of poverty, violence, and unintended pregnancies as they seek refuge in safer locations.
In light of these challenges, The Earth Prize has served as a platform for inspiring young women to showcase their innovative ideas. Teams such as Adorbsies and Delavo from Vietnam and Turkey, respectively, have achieved success in the world’s largest environmental sustainability competition for young people aged 13-19 years.
Female climate entrepreneurs have discovered the opportunity not only to make a significant impact on the sector as a whole, but also to positively influence the lives of other women affected by climate-related events. The Earth Prize competition has played a pivotal role in their journey, providing mentorship support and affording them the opportunity to be heard by prospective partner companies.
Moving forward, one hopes to witness an influx of young women into climate entrepreneurship who can unveil innovative solutions to address climate change without encountering undue obstacles. Efforts to combat gender bias and funding disparities are imperative actions to undertake, alongside the dissemination of the stories and experiences of female climate entrepreneurs. The vision is for female climate entrepreneurs to operate within an equitable working environment in the future, where they can identify the most efficient alternatives to combat climate-related challenges. Should you know of a young individual aged 13-19 years and believe that this career path may resonate with them, I encourage you to inspire them to apply for The Earth Prize in 2025.
Charlotte Tucker, a media specialist working with The Earth Foundation, emphasises the critical nature of incentivising young women to engage in climate entrepreneurship. By empowering women in this field, not only can we address the urgent need for novel solutions to combat climate change, but we can also contribute to the advancement and progress of women globally.