February is Black History Month—a time to pay tribute to generations of African Americans, celebrate their rich cultural heritage and achievements, and recognize the adversities that are an important part of our nation’s history.
As we reflect on the past and present, it is important to recognize the people and events who have made significant contributions to America and the rest of the world.
This year, we want to recognize the black activists, scientists, lawyers, politicians, and educators who have been and continue to be integral in fighting the climate crisis and shaping our pathway to a just energy transition.
African American entrepreneurs and inventors have created critical technologies that are enabling our fight against climate change today. We’ve profiled a few key figures in this effort, recognizing that there are many African Americans contributing in so many ways to fighting the most pressing challenge of our time.
Dr. Gladys West
Gladys West is a mathematician who was instrumental in developing the computations behind the Global Positioning System (GPS). She worked on the first project that demonstrated satellites could be used to observe oceanographic data such as water temperature, winds, and icebergs. From this innovative work, she helped develop a program that creates computer models of the earth’s surface. These efforts helped build the GPS, which is an essential tool in understanding our planet’s climate and the effects of global warming. West is often referred to as one of history’s “hidden figures” who has not been properly recognized for her groundbreaking contributions.
“I felt proud of myself as a woman, knowing that I can do what I can do. But as a black woman, that’s another level where you have to prove to a society that hasn’t accepted you for what you are. What I did was keep trying to prove that I was as good as you are. There is no difference in the work we can do.”
Her long-awaited memoir “IT BEGAN WITH A DREAM” was released on Juneteenth last year and chronicles her life’s story.
Dr. Warren Washington
Dr. Warren Washington was the second African American to earn a doctorate in atmospheric sciences and one of the first developers of atmospheric computer models, which are helping scientists understand climate change. His climate models have evolved to incorporate oceans and sea ice, and his research has been used in Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, which provide policymakers with scientific assessments on climate change. Washington and his colleagues were awarded the 2007 Novel Peace Prize for these accomplishments.
“We’re going to have to face up to something that’s going to affect our children and grandchildren. I think what really wins out over time is that the science will speak for itself.”
To learn more about Washington, you can read his autobiography, “Odyssey in Climate Modeling, Global Warming and Advising Five Presidents.”
Annie Easley
Annie Easley was an African American computer scientist, mathematician, and rocket scientist, and she was one of the first African Americans to work as a computer scientist at NASA. She made groundbreaking contributions over her 34-year career, and one of her many accomplishments was developing a computer code that is utilized in many energy projects and alternative power technologies. She co-authored numerous papers about nuclear engines in rockets and had the opportunity to work on solar, wind and other energy projects. Her work with NASA also laid the groundwork for communications and weather satellites, which are essential to monitoring and predicting climate change, as well as contributed to the design and testing of the NASA nuclear energy reactor.
“My head is not in the sand. But my thing is, if I can’t work with you, I will work around you. I was not about to be [so] discouraged that I’d walk away.”
“Annie Easley―The Story of a NASA Computer Scientist,” is an interactive book for younger children meant to inspire interest for girls in science and technology.
The accomplishments of these men and women are critical to fighting climate change, as well as our ability to execute a just energy transition. They’ve helped build everything from computers to coalitions that have changed our perception about what needs to be done to meet this moment, and now we’re seeing a young, diverse group of advocates proposing bold solutions to the climate crisis.
We thank African Americans across the country who have helped get us here, and we recognize there is much work to be done and a long way to go before these goals are realized.
