Joni Seager

Joni Seager delivered the morning keynote address at The Scholar and Feminist Conference 2010, "Feminism and Climate Change." Already among the most vulnerable populations worldwide, women and other marginalized groups have been the most acutely affected by the instabilities produced by climate change. Issues such as water scarcity, drought, and other environmental problems threaten the world's food supply, making it more difficult for disadvantaged groups to obtain the basic necessities of life. Increased temperatures and more intense weather patterns raise the likelihood of illness and disease, especially among the poor. Diminishing resources, known to increase conflict and war, are leading to greater numbers of "climate refugees" and displaced people. In all of these situations, women are disproportionately affected by the dangers that climate change poses to our world. Joni Seager is a scholar and activist in feminist geography, international women's studies, and global environmental policy. She is the author of 10 books, and more than 3 dozen reports, articles, and chapters in books. In the environmental field, she was an early pioneer in bringing feminist perspectives to bear on global environmental policy and analysis. Her 1993 book, Earth Follies, has become a classic in the field.