Women Who Are Pioneering the Climate Movement in 2020

Giving Compass’ Take:

• Heather Clancy, writing for GreenBiz, lists 25 women who have been instrumental at paving the way for the climate movement to thrive in 2020. 

• What are you doing to contribute to the climate movement? How can donors support women in addressing climate issues?

• Read more about supporting women and girls to advance climate action. 

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Even the most courageous leaders have moments of doubt.

“I never think I am doing enough,” admitted Christiana Figueres, the Costa Rican diplomat who led the United Nations negotiations that yielded the historic Paris Agreement, during a New York interview in late February to mark the publication of her new book, “The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis.”

Her moment of self-reflection came during the audience question-and-answer session, after a Brazilian university student asked for tips to build her own self-confidence about addressing the climate crisis.

Choking back tears, and pointing to her two daughters as her perennial inspiration, Figueres continued: “We’ve got to turn this around. There is no way that my generation can turn over the table without changing the trajectory. It is our solemn responsibility.”

Who is rising to the challenge? The 25 individuals on GreenBiz’s second “Badass Women” list, selected by the editorial team in honor of International Women’s Day, are inspiring action in their own unique ways  — in boardrooms, through employee networks and political circles, and on farms and factory floors.

• Jane Ambachtsheer, Global Head of Sustainability, BNP Paribas Asset Management Jane Ambachtsheer, an ex-Mercer partner and former consultant to the United Nations who was involved with the creation of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), drives that sort of strategy behind the scenes. In 2018 she joined the investment management arm of BNP, where she is charged with accelerating its footprint in sustainable finance. Her education from Amsterdam and York University: equal parts social science, economics and English literature.
• Ezgi Barcenas, Global Vice President of Sustainability, Anheuser Busch InBev A Vanderbilt University-educated biomedical and electric engineer — who also holds a master’s in environmental health from Harvard and an MBA from Chicago-Booth — Ezgi Barcenas joined the sustainability team at Anheuser Busch InBev four years ago. She quickly worked her way up to her global role as the executive responsible for managing its 2025 sustainability strategy.

Read the full article about women in the climate movement by Heather Clancy at GreenBiz.