Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities for Women

The event, celebrated at The Westin La Paloma in Tucson, Arizona, gathered more than one hundred women to discuss how participants, as consumers, investors, professionals, civic-minded citizens, and member of religious communities, can contribute to developing and promoting solutions to climate change. The workshop also highlighted the financial, employment and other opportunities for women presented by the green technology revolution that is being driven by climate change.

Teresa Heinz Kerry is a pioneer in venture philanthropy and one of the nation's leading environmental advocates, serving as chairman of the Heinz Endowments and the Heinz Family Philanthropies. In 1995, when the UTNE Reader named 100 Visionaries, Teresa was among them. Later that year, she launched the Heinz Center to improve the scientific and economic foundation for environmental policy through collaboration among industry, government, academic, and environmental organizations. Because of her long standing interest in women's health and the environment, in 1996 her foundation began an annual national conference of women's health and the environment.

Kathleen Rogers is president of Earth Day Network and has worked for more than 15 years as an environmental attorney and advocate, focusing on litigation, climate change, international trade, and development issues. Presentation: Women as Agents of Change

Susan Joy Hassol is a climate change communicator, analyst, and author known for her ability to translate science into English, making complex issues accessible to policymakers and the public. She is the writer of the widely-acclaimed HBO documentary Too Hot Not to Handle. Presentation: Climate Change and the Health and Welfare of your Family and Community
Susan Joy Hassol on ABC News

Wendy Gordon is president of the Green Guide Institute, a non-profit consumer research and education organization, and publisher of The Green Guide and thegreenguide.com. She currently serves as chairman of the board of Trickle-Up. Presentation: Low Carb (on) Diet: Lost 13,353 Pounds (of CO2) in Three Months

Leslie Lowe is director of the Energy and Environment Program at the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, a coalition of 275 religious institutional investors who have been filing shareholder resolutions on global warming since 1991. Presentation: How to Successfully Invest in the Green Technology Revolution

Helen Klanderud is mayor of Aspen, Colorado. She represents Aspen on the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority Board, which was voted the Best Mass Transit System in North America. Helen is an attorney and a licensed clinical social worker. Presentation: Aspen's Commitment to Improving the Environment

Michelle Wyman is executive director of ICLEI, Local Governments for Sustainability. Her areas of expertise include sustainable development, environmental management systems, and public management both domestically and internationally. Presentation: Creating the Next Generation of Livable Cities