Green Queens: 5 Feminine Traits Crucial for Sustainability Success

This month, in the wake of International Women’s Day (IWD), we are celebrating the achievements and resilience of women worldwide. IWD is a reminder of the invaluable contributions of women across different fields including sustainability. In this week’s column, I am exploring 5 intrinsic feminine traits that serve as catalysts for progress towards a more sustainable future.

1. Foresight: In our own homes, we all have seen the foresight of women preparing for future crises scenarios. We have witnessed our mothers and grandmothers carefully planning and managing resources such as stocking up the pantry for unforeseen emergencies or setting aside savings for rainy days. This innate ability to anticipate and mitigate potential challenges extends beyond the household, encompassing a broader understanding of environmental issues and the need for safeguarding our planet for future generations. 
2. Resilience: Throughout history, women have demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. This resilience, coupled with adaptability, proves invaluable in addressing the complex challenges of climate change and environmental degradation. One of the examples that come to mind, about whom I have often spoken to my daughter, is climate activist, Greta Thunberg. She has fearlessly advocated for climate action. Even when ridiculed and challenged by the highest powers of the world, she has always stood her ground. Her determination was contagious and mobilised millions to join the fight for a sustainable future. Our sustainability leaders of the future 
3. Empathy: While it’s often said that women are too emotional or being feminine is to get emotionally involved, I firmly disagree with this point of view. It is empathy, the capacity to understand and connect with problems on a deeper level, that enables feminine personalities to forge powerful collaborations within communities. By nurturing relationships with both mind and heart, they bridge divides, form consensus, boost collective intelligence that brings solutions that are truly sustainable. Take Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan environmentalist and founder of the Green Belt Movement, for example. Through her empathy and ability to relate to local women, she galvanised communities across Africa to combat deforestation and improve livelihoods by planting trees. 
4. Inclusive: Inclusivity is an important pillar of feminine leadership, which is again a crucial trait when it comes to solving the climate problem. Climate solutions cannot be developed in isolation in a lab and implemented across geographies and communities. Every problem is unique based on their unique landscape. Femininity embodies values of listening, consensus-building, and empowerment. In sustainability, this approach ensures that the voices of all stakeholders, regardless of background or status, are not merely acknowledged but actively engaged in decision-making processes. Unlike the traditional top-down approach, femininity advocates for collective problem-solving, emphasising collaboration and cooperation among all parties involved. A feminine leadership promotes a sense of ownership and accountability among communities, driving meaningful progress towards a sustainable future.
5. Creative: Feminine traits often include a strong sense of creativity and innovation, which are essential for developing novel and agile solutions to sustainability challenges. Women have been at the forefront of inventing new technologies and approaches to address environmental issues. For example, Dr. Hayat Sindi, a Saudi Arabian scientist, has pioneered the development of low-cost diagnostic tools for resource-constrained settings, revolutionising healthcare delivery and environmental monitoring in developing countries.

I’ve long held the belief, shared by many, that femininity or feminine traits goes beyond gender—it’s a mindset and a way of being. Whether it’s empathy, vision, resilience, inclusivity, or innovation, these are traits necessary in approaching environmental challenges. We call our planet Mother Earth and nature, Mother Nature for a reason. Our sustainability leaders, no matter the gender, must imbibe these qualities if they want to truly move the needle on climate change.

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Payal Raj

Payal has 15 years of global communications and advocacy experience, covering broadcast business news, journalism, media relations, public affairs, and sustainability communications. She's worked across Asia, Europe, and North America. Currently, as Senior Manager of Sustainability Communications at Mars Pet Nutrition, North America, Payal's expertise encompasses strategic communications, crisis management, issues advocacy, and stakeholder engagement. Her blog provides a global perspective on PR trends and challenges, reflecting her diverse industry background.