Susan Chomba is the director of the food, land, and water programs in Africa through the World Resources Institute. She stands alone. Around 12% of the world’s top climate scientists are women, and less than one percent are from Africa – a continent that is continuously berated by climate change. Chomba advocates hard for those most often overlooked: farmers, elders, and women. Climate science has taken on a masculine perspective – focusing heavily on new technologies and innovation, ignoring the perspectives of others; of women and of communities. Chomba notes there is an urgent need for community-driven innovation and specificity in climate plans, citing the Kenyan President’s plan to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, which fails to mention where, which species, for what purpose, and who will maintain them. Chomba’s background in poverty informs everything she does, how she leads her division, and how she practices climate science. Her hard work and underrepresented perspectives demonstrate why it is so important for women and diverse communities to be involved in climate leadership.
