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.