"As we mull the fate of the planet, let’s face it: Women care more about climate change and the environment than men do.
At least that’s what they tell pollsters. A large body of national research has documented this gender gap — not a huge divide but one durable over time.
This remains true in this not-so-exceptional Golden State, where a 2021 Public Policy Institute of California poll showed that women surveyed were noticeably more concerned than men about climate threats such as extreme heat waves, rising sea levels and wildfires. ...
California is a good laboratory to explore women’s impact on environmental policy and the hurdles they continue to face. Over the decades, numerous female environmental leaders have sprung from California, including former Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols as well as celebrity advocates such as Erin Brockovich and Jane Fonda."
Stuart Leavenworth reports for the Los Angeles Times June 9, 2022.