In 2017 we published a list of the Top 50 Women in Climate to Follow on Twitter. This sparked an amazing reaction, as well as a deluge of follow up emails and tweets highlighting yet more amazing women leading the charge on climate science and policy especially. For International Women’s Day 2019 we have updated it again!

The list is comprised of women leading the way in discussions on all things climate and sustainability across science, policy, journalism, and from NGOs and private sector.

They are listed in order of the number of followers on Twitter, pick your faves or do yourself a favour and follow them all. If you think there are amazing women missing from this list, get in touch and we’ll update it again soon.

Special Mention

Greta Thunberg

Photo Credit: Anders Hellberg of Effekt magazine
Photo Credit: Anders Hellberg of Effekt magazine

If you don’t know this 16 year old climate activist, where have you been?

In August 2018, she became a prominent figure for starting the first school strike for climate outside the Swedish parliament building. This has led to tens of thousands of students from the U.S to Japan joining her #FridaysforFuture strikes

Tweets about: climate change, #fridaysforfuture, not accepting the status quo.

 

 

Top 20 Scientists
  1. Katherine Hayhoe

Director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University

Tweets about: Climate change risk and the realities of climate change, climate action, climate change science

  

  1. Jacquelyn Gill

Ice Age Ecologist and Assistant Professor at the University of Maine

Tweets about: The Arctic, reducing fossil fuel usage and pollution, climate science

 

  

  1. Heidi Cullen

Climate scientist and chief scientist for the non-profit environmental organisation Climate Central

Tweets about: Impacts of climate change on cities, the environment, weather, health and the economy

 

  1. Naomi Oreskes

Author and Professor of the History of Science and Affiliated Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard

Tweets about: Carbon emissions and pollution, clean energy, climate disasters

 

  1. Tamsin Edwards

Lecturer in Environmental Sciences at The Open University

Tweets about: Antarctica, impacts of global warming on oceans and ice, The Open University

 

 

  1. Georgina Mace

British ecologist and conservation scientist; Professor of Biodiversity and Ecoystems at University College London

Tweets about: Impacts of climate change on the environment and health, natural capital

 

  1. Dr Kim Cobb

American climate scientist and Professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the Georgia Institute of Technology, also a Georgia Power Faculty Scholar

Tweets about: Low carbon transition, carbon sequestration, oceans, women in science

 

  1. Jacqueline Glass

Professor in Architecture and Sustainable Construction at Loughborough University

Tweets about: Ethical and responsible sourcing, sustainability in the built environment

 

  1. Dr Sarah E. Myhre

Research Associate at the University of Washington; Board Member of 500 Women Scientists and the Center for Women & Democracy

Tweets about: Long-term climate trends and climate records, women in science, women leaders

 

  1. Dr Kate Marvel

Scientist at Columbia University and the NASA Goddard Institute of Space studies

Tweets about: Impacts of climate change on weather, witty comments on climate change in the news and deniers

 

  1. Kim Nicholas

Associate Professor of Sustainability Science at Lund University in Sweden

Tweets about: Impacts of climate change on agriculture, weather and ecosystems

 

  1. Gretta Pecl

Associate Professor at the University of Tasmania specialising in climate change ecology; editor in chief of Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries

Tweets about: Impacts of climate change on ecosystems and biodiversity, marine life, climate science

 

  1. Valerie Masson-Delmotte

French climate scientist and Research Director at the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission; co-chair of IPCC Working Group I for the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6)

Tweets about: IPCC Special Report, impacts of climate change on weather and cryosphere, climate science

 

  1. Dr Paula Owen

Founder & CEO at Green Gumption, Founder of Eco Action Games, environmental and sustainability specialist

Tweets about: Renewable energy and energy investments, recycling

 

  1. Jennifer Marlon

Research Scientist at Yale University with a focus on extreme weather events and natural hazards; Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and Yale Programme on Climate Communication

Tweets about: Climate science, statistics and research; climate disasters, wild fires

 

  1. Merritt Turetsky

Ecosystem ecologist and Associate Professor of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Tweets about: Wildfires, carbon cycling, food security, soil

  

 

  1. Jennifer Holmgren

CEO of LanzaTech, bioprocessing to make low-carbon chemicals and fuels that displace petroleum

Tweets about: Recycling waste carbon into fuels and chemicals, decarbonisation, biofuels

 

  1. Dr Natasha DeJarnett

Policy Analyst in Environmental Health at American Public Health Association

Tweets about: Health impacts of climate change

 

 

  1. Tina Fawcett

Senior Researcher, Environmental Change Institute at Oxford University

Tweets about: Energy efficiency, clean growth, renewables, role of business in sustainable and clean growth

 

  1. Malin Mobjörk

Senior Researcher at Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) working on climate-related security risks and policy responses

Tweets about: Climate security, development and peace, climate-related work of SIPRI

 

 

Top 20 Policy Makers/Commentators
  1. Elizabeth May

Leader of the Green Party of Canada

Tweets about: Climate justice and climate change action; delivering on policy and funding for climate change initiatives

 

  1. Amina J. Mohammed

Deputy Secretary-General of the UN

Tweets about: Climate Action, SDGs/global goals, resilience

 

  1. Gina McCarthy

American public administrator and environmental health and air quality expert; former administrator for the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Tweets about: Tackling pollution, clean water and air, renewable energy, low carbon transition, EPA, environmental health

 

  1. Christine Milne

Former Australian Senator and leader of the Australian Greens; Global Greens Ambassador

Tweets about: Climate action, climate justice, climate and displacement

  

  1. Catherine McKenna

Canadian Minister of Environment

Tweets about: Climate action, women leaders, climate policy

 

  1. Patricia Espinosa C.

Executive Secretary of UNFCCC

Tweets about: UNFCCC, role of women and civil society in climate change action, Paris Agreement, climate policy

 

  1. Connie Hedegaard

Danish politician; Chairperson of the OECD Round Table on Sustainable Development and former European Commissioner for Climate Action in the European Commission

Tweets about: Climate change politics, spreading the word about climate action, sustainable development and the SDGs

 

  1. Loren Legarda

Filipino environmentalist, cultural worker, journalist, and politician; the only women to top two senatorial elections (1998 and 2007)

Tweets about: Climate action – tackling pollution and deforestation and promoting more sustainable living, sustainable resource use and management

 

  1. Rachel Kyte

Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and CEO of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL)

Tweets about: Sustainable Energy for All, SDG7 (energy goal), renewables

 

  1. Laurence Tubiana

CEO European Climate Foundation and Chair of the Board of Governors at the French Development Agency (AFD)

Tweets about: Energy/low-carbon transition, Paris Agreement, European climate change policy

  

  1. Sarah Beattie-Smith

Acting Consumer Futures Scotland Manager at Citizens Advice Scotland; member of the Scottish Green Party

Tweets about: Climate action and policy, energy efficiency, low-carbon transition

 

  1. Marguerite Gazze

Communication Advisor at European Commission (DG Energy)

Tweets about: Renewable energy, clean energy, energy infrastructure

 

  1. Romilly Madew

Chief Executive of the Green Building Council of Australia; Board member of the Sydney Olympic Park Authority

Tweets about: Green buildings, sustainable development, green cities, women in leadership

 

  1. Zoë Caron

Chief of Staff at Ministry of Natural Resources Canada

Tweets about: Energy efficiency, clean economy, climate policy (Canadian context)

 

  1. Roz Pidcock

IPCC Head of Communications and former deputy editor and science editor at Carbon Brief

Tweets about: IPCC and climate change policy

  

  1. Pramilla Malick

US politician and Founder of Protect Orange County, a community organisation leading the opposition of CPV fracked gas power plant

Tweets about: Environmental justice, anti-fracking, action against climate change

 

  1. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz

UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Tweets about: Role of indigenous people in climate action, climate justice and indigenous rights

 

  1. Malin Strand

Future Energy Leader at World Energy Council, Fossil Free Sweden

Tweets about: Renewable energy, decarbonisation, innovation, technology

 

  1. Sandrine Dixson-Declève

Senior Associate Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) and Chief Partnership Office SE4All

Tweets about: Renewable electricity generation, women and climate change leadership, low-carbon transition

  

  1. Adriana Valenzuela

UNFCCC focal point for climate education and youth

Tweets about: Youth and climate action, SDG4 (education), youth empowerment

 

Top 20 Writers and Journalists
  1. Naomi Klein

Canadian author and social activist known for her political analyses and criticism of corporate globalisation and capitalism; author of New York Times best seller This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate (2014)

Tweets about: Climate action, environmental activism, climate in the media and politics

 

  1. Lucy Siegle

Journalist who writes about ethical living for The Guardian; co-host on The One Show

Tweets about: Ethical living and sustainable life choices, topical environmental issues, environmental awareness and impacts

 

  1. Fiona Harvey

Environment Correspondent at The Guardian; former Environment Correspondent at the Financial Times

Tweets about: Paris Agreement, climate policy, impacts of climate change on ecosystems and the environment

 

  1. Suzanne Goldenberg

Author and Former environment correspondent and foreign correspondent at The Guardian US

Tweets about: Climate, energy and environment politics in US, economic impacts of climate change

 

  1. Jess Shankleman

Business journalist Bloomberg with focus on renewable energy and climate change

Tweets about: Climate change in the UK (impacts and mitigation/adaptation strategies), renewable energy, alternative fuel sources, EVs

 

  1. Emily Gosden

Energy Editor at The Times; formerly at The Telegraph

Tweets about: All things energy: energy policy, clean energy transition, renewables

  

  1. Maddie Stone

Science writer at Gizmodo, a design, technology, science and science fiction website

Tweets about: Climate change science and evidence, mitigation, climate action

 

  1. Megan Darby

Deputy Editor of Climate Home

Tweets about: International politics of climate change, reducing emissions and the fossil fuel industry

 

  1. Sophie Yeo

Environmental journalist with bylines in The Washington Post, Hakai, Oceans Deeply, Carbon Pulse & others; formerly of Carbon Brief and Climate Home

Tweets about: US climate politics and climate action

 

  1. Megan Rowling

Journalist with Thomson Reuters Foundation, editor of zilient.org (online news/network for resilience practitioners)

Tweets about: Climate change in the news: energy, activism, impacts

 

  1. Christine Ottery

Freelance environment and science journalist; former Deputy Editor of Energydesk at Greenpeace

Tweets about: Climate action, climate change and health, pollution, anti-fracking, value of ecosystems and biodiversity

 

  1. Tina Casey

Author at CleanTechnica, tech writer specialising in alternative energy, biofuels and new research

Tweets about: Clean power, renewables, EVs, hydrogen fuel/biofuel, energy technology

 

  1. Ewa Krukowska

Bloomberg News reporter focusing on EU climate and energy

Tweets about: Clean energy transition, EVs, renewables, EU climate politics

 

  1. Marianne Lavelle

Politics reporter and writer at InsideClimate News

Tweets about: Climate politics, climate disasters, renewables, zero-carbon growth, anti fossil fuels

 

  1. Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner

Marshall Islander poet and spoken word artist who performed at the opening of the UN Climate Summit in New York 2014; co-founder of non-profit Jo-Jikum dedicated to empowering Marshallese youth to seek solutions to climate change

Tweets about: Climate action to save the Pacific Islands, giving islanders a voice

 

  1. Kyla Mandel

Freelance journalist focusing on climate and politics; former Editor at DeSmog UK

Tweets about: Climate disasters, impact of climate change on the Arctic and the environment more broadly

 

  1. Madeleine Cuff

Deputy Editor at Business Green

Tweets about: Green economy, EVs, clean energy, green growth, low-carbon infrastructure

 

  1. Catherine Early

Freelance environmental journalist; former Deputy Editor at The Environmentalist

Tweets about: Climate change in the news, health impacts, renewable energy, sustainability and transport

 

  1. Cherri Foytlin

Indigenous writer, freelance journalist, author, activist, photographer and speaker

Tweets about: Climate justice and environmental advocacy, anti-pipelines and fossil fuels

 

  1. Hanne May

Energy journalist and publicist, energy communication expert, consultant, moderator and speaker

Tweets about: Clean energy transition, Paris Agreement, renewables, zero carbon economy

 

 

Top 20 NGO Representatives
  1. Clean Air Moms Action

The political action partner of Moms Clean Air Force which works to build support to protect children from the health impacts of air pollution

Tweets about: Clean air, pollution, health, climate reports

 

  1. Jennifer Morgan

Executive Director of Greenpeace International

Tweets about: Climate justice, clean energy, climate and environmental activism

 

  1. ClimateMama

Founded by Harriet Shugarman in 2009, ClimateMama seeks to make climate change information and education accessible and understandable to all

Tweets about: Climate action, climate justice, uniting for climate

 

  1. Mindy Lubber

CEO and President of Ceres

Tweets about: Low carbon transition, role of business in climate change action, clean energy

  

  1. May Boeve

Executive Director of 350.org, a global non-profit organisation focussed on building 100% clean energy solutions that work for all

Tweets about: Climate change and natural disasters, renewable energy, speaking out about climate change and ‘breaking the silence’

  

  1. Samantha Smith

Leading the Just Transition Centre to zero carbon, zero poverty and for workers, jobs and communities, with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and partners

Tweets about: Renewable energy, green economy, business role in climate change, ESG investing

 

  1. Emma Pinchbeck

Executive Director RenewableUK, former Head of Climate WWF UK

Tweets about: Renewable power, clean energy infrastructure and development

 

  1. Jessica McQuade

Policy and Advocacy Officer WWF Cymru

Tweets about: Green infrastructure, circular economy, ecological footprints

 

  1. Terri Wills

CEO World Green Building Council

Tweets about: Green buildings, Net Zero development, sustainable cities

 

  1. Amy Mount

Head of Greener UK Unit at Green Alliance

Tweets about: Green growth and clean growth in UK, environmental management and conservation

 

  1. Emily Farnworth

Head of Climate Initiatives World Economic Forum (WEF), RE100 Campaign Director

Tweets about: Green economy and investing, renewable energy, RE100, EVs

 

  1. Diane Regas

Executive Director Environmental Defence Fund and ex-Administrator at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Tweets about: Work of the Environmental Defence Fund (EDF), EPA, US climate/energy politics

 

  1. Achala C. Abeysinghe

Principal Researcher/Team Leader at IIED; Legal & Strategy Advisor to the Chair of the LDC Group UNFCCC

Tweets about: Female leadership, climate change and LDCs, adaptation and enhancing resilience in LDCs

 

  1. Michelle Yonetani

Senior Strategic Advisor Disasters & Climate Change at Norwegian Refugee Council/Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre

Tweets about: Climate change, disasters and displacement; resilience and risk reduction

 

  1. Nicolette Bartlett

Director of Climate Change at CDP

Tweets about: Green finance/investing, business role and transparency

 

  1. Gina Hanrahan

Acting Head of Policy at WWF Scotland

Tweets about: Renewables and clean power, clean growth, green vehicles

 

  1. Jane Stevensen

Engagement specialist in sustainable business and finance

Tweets about: Green finance, sustainable investment, climate change in the boardroom

 

  1. Eliza Northrop

International environmental lawyer with expertise in climate change; Associate in the International Climate Action Initiative at the World Resources Institute (WRI)

Tweets about: Climate science, data and facts; climate research, Paris Agreement

 

  1. Paula Caballero

Global Director for Climate Programme at the World Resources Institute (WRI)

Tweets about: Paris Agreement and SDGs, effects and impacts of climate change, climate disasters, climate action

 

  1. Cécile Gerondeau

Marketing and Communications Associate at ‎Business for Social Responsibility (BSR)

Tweets about: Sustainable development, female empowerment, sustainable business

 

 

Top 20 Private Sector Representatives
  1. Gretchen Bleiler

Olympic snowboarder, co-founder of Always Live Extraordinary (ALEX), a company which aims to shift habits and consciousness for a healthy and sustainable world

Tweets about: Protecting winters, circular economy, climate action, Paris Agreement

 

  1. Christiana Figueres

Convener of Mission 2020. Costa Rican diplomat with 35 years of experience in high level national and international policy and multilateral negotiations

Tweets about: Reducing GHG emissions, fossil fuels, the carbon market, EVs

 

  1. Andrea Learned

Independent communications strategist, specialising in influencer relations for climate action/impact non-profits

Tweets about: Urban transport (bikes), climate change and cities, pollution

 

  1. Marissa Rosen

Owner of Climate Social, a digital marketing firm for sustainable businesses

Tweets about: Role of business in climate change, circular economy, CSR, clean power

 

  1. Kelly Rigg

Founding director of The Varda Group, a consultancy providing campaign, communications and strategic advice to NGOs; former Executive Director of the Global Call for Climate Action

Tweets about: Clean energy, impacts of climate change on the environment and economy, climate politics

  

  1. Camilla Born

Senior Policy Advisor in Climate Diplomacy and Risk at E3G; Trustee with Climate Outreach

Tweets about: Climate resilience and risk management; climate security, geopolitics and governance

 

  1. Claire Poole

Founder of ClearBright Consulting, a boutique communications and events management agency specialising in sustainable development, climate change, sport, technology and innovation; Board Member at UKHarvest

Tweets about: Communications services in sustainability, climate change, renewables, sport and sustainable development

 

  1. Estelle Brachlianoff

Veolia Executive Vice-President UK & Ireland

Tweets about: Renewable energy, waste management, recycling, circular economy

 

  1. Aubrey McCormick

Former American professional golfer and Principal at IMPACT360 Sports, a whole value sustainability consulting firm

Tweets about: Sustainable lifestyles, CSR, role of business in climate action and sustainability

 

  1. Aileen McManamon

Senior Partner at the 5T Sports Group, brand optimisation strategist for the Sports Industry

Tweets about: Sustainability in sport, biofuels, circular economy, good business and CSR in sport, brand optimisation

 

  1. Alicia Montoya

Vice President, Strategy & Operations at Swiss Re

Tweets about: Sustainability, resilience, conservation, role of public and private sector in climate action

 

  1. Helen Taylor

Head of FGR Community at Forest Green Rovers, the world’s greenest football club and Ambassador of Ecotricity Group Ltd

Tweets about: Forest Green Rovers, sustainable lifestyle choices, EVs, wind power, Ecotricity

 

  1. Sian Wynn-Jones

Integrated communications, sustainability and heritage consultant, the purpose business

Tweets about: Green business, sustainable cities/urban development

 

  1. Jennifer Holmgren

CEO of LanzaTech, bioprocessing to make low-carbon chemicals and fuels that displace petroleum

Tweets about: Recycling waste carbon into fuels and chemicals, decarbonisation, biofuels

 

  1. Janani Vivekananda

Senior Advisor specialising in climate change, security and peace-building at Adelphi

Tweets about: Economic impacts and implications of climate change; climate policy

 

  1. Catherine Kummer

Sustainability and sport expert

Tweets about: Sport and sustainability, power of sport to boost development and promote climate action, NASCAR

 

  1. Karen Sutton

Founder and CEO of the Global Good Awards; former Formula One photographer

Tweets about: Circular economy, sustainable business, supply chain sustainability, responsible investing and consumption

 

  1. Susie Tomson

Sustainability Director at PCSG and Founder of Earth to Ocean

Tweets about: Circular economy, sustainability in sport, sustainable urban development and infrastructure

 

  1. Jane Burston

Director of Clean Air Fund; Member of the Global Future Council on Energy at the World Economic Forum (WEF)

Tweets about: Clean air, renewable energy, hydrogen fuel, batteries, decarbonisation

 

  1. Alexis Powers

Senior Web Project Manager at the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NWEL)

Tweets about: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NWEL), solar and wind energy