Microsoft: How Can We Close The Green Talent Gender Gap?
Due to inequality, a reliance on natural resources and poverty, women are often faced with the greatest vulnerabilities that emerge from climate change.
A recent report from LinkedIn highlighted how nine in 10 women fail to possess any green work experience or a single green skill - a challenge called the ‘green talent gender gap’ - meaning many are unable to access new roles in the sustainability industry due to the fact they do not have the in-demand digital skills demanded of them.
As we continue to address our growing climate crisis, we must foster inclusive approaches to leverage the potential of women as innovators and change agents.
By providing access to education and land rights, whilst also investing in women’s education, we can propel gender-inclusive action to catalyse transformative change and climate action.
Race to Zero, an international campaign by the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions that helps to catalyse inclusive, sustainable growth, has released a feature that spotlights eight influential sustainability executives as advocates for climate action across several industries, including Melanie Nakagawa, CSO of Microsoft.
Meet Melanie Nakagawa
Melanie Nakagawa is the Chief Sustainability Officer at Microsoft - a role in which she combines business, policy and technology to craft a greener future.
Her career has encompassed three industries that lie at the heart of climate action over the last 20 years - finance, policy and technology - in roles in the private sector, government and advocacy groups.
As a result of this, Melanie has consistently recognised the importance of teamwork in tackling climate change and applies this to her work at Microsoft, explaining how - “The world is not currently on track to meet critical climate goals, and many of the global challenges we face are reflected in our own sustainability journey.
"For me, sustainability is truly a team sport.
"At Microsoft, our work to become carbon-negative by 2030 is a collaborative effort, with teams across the company playing a role.
"Leaders across Microsoft have stepped up to sponsor and drive this work, and we’re actively collaborating with our customers, partners, and other key stakeholders to amplify our efforts.
"This journey towards our 2030 vision requires all of us, and I invite everyone – inside and outside of Microsoft – to join us in this vital mission.”
Microsoft’s sustainability initiatives
In 2020, technology giant Microsoft announced its sustainability commitments - a clear display of its commitment to improving equality in the mission of tackling climate change.
By 2030, it is striving to become water-positive. This means the company will increase access to water and sanitation, replenish more water than it consumes and reduce waste use intensity globally.
Microsoft’s water replenishment programme consists of many projects, such as -
- Land conservation and restoration
- Aquatic habitat restoration
- Water supply reliability
- Water quality
As part of its drive to reduce the water crisis, Microsoft is centering its efforts on data centres - a significant cause of global water stress due to the vast quantities of water required for cooling purposes.
Melanie highlights how Microsoft is becoming a leading pioneer in water sustainability as its “new data centre designs are optimised to support AI workloads while consuming zero water for cooling, achieved by transitioning to chip-level cooling that precisely targets where cooling is needed without requiring evaporation.”
Its water replenishment programme has had significant impacts - with 1.5 million people in countries such as Chile, India, Indonesia, Mexico and Brazil receiving access to clean water and sanitation.
- Carbon negative by 2030
- Remove all direct emissions of the company by 2050
- Invest in science-based carbon removal projects
- Protect more land than they use by 2025
- Zero waste by 2030
High-Level Climate Champions
Melanie Nakagawa features alongside seven other leading sustainability pioneers in the feature by Climate Champions.
To reach the goals established in the Paris Agreement at COP21, nations decided to appoint two Climate Change High-Level Champions that would connect the voluntary and collaborative actions taken by regions, businesses and investors to the work of governments.
H.E. Ms. Razan Al Mubarak and H.E. Ms. Nigar Arpadarai were the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions for COP28 and COP29.
Nigar Arpadarai, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP29, explains how, "Empowering women is empowering the planet. Gender-responsive climate action ensures no one is left behind and accelerates the path to a sustainable future."
The High-Level Climate Champions’ recent feature highlighted several trailblazers who are catalysing gender equity across many climate solutions, including-
- H.E Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, UAE, and President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
- Nigar Arpadarai, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP29
- Melanie Nakagawa, CSO of Microsoft
- Gina Ziervogel, Director of the ACDI (African Climate and Development Initiative) and Professor in the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science at the University of Cape Town, South Africa
- Sara Omi, Indigenous leader of the Emberá people in Panama and the Representative of the Women’s Movement of the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC)
- Ayshka Najib, climate justice activist and an intersectional feminist
- Mana Omar, grassroots youth leader and climate/gender justice advocate
- Mayor Abby Binay of Makati
We need to empower everyone — women and men — to play a role in preserving our planet. And that means bringing together people from all walks of life — mothers, farmers, caregivers, scholars, scientists, Indigenous community members and young people — to protect our planet for present and future generations. Empowering women isn’t a zero-sum game, and it doesn’t mean disempowering others. After all, a rising tide lifts all boats. Today, and every day, we need to make sure that women’s voices are heard, included and celebrated.
The message of the feature was clear - we must integrate equity and inclusivity in our sustainability agendas to ensure that we can effectively tackle the climate crisis.
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