Women of Carbon Review: Inspiring Change and Innovation at the Newport Beach Film Festival
Their speaking style is incredibly therapeutic, providing a sense of calm and reassurance to the audience, even amidst urgent climate issues. Through positivity and hope, they discuss their experiences navigating challenges in male-dominated fields while achieving success. Their combined insights reflect a strong commitment to restoring, protecting, and preserving our planet through the use of sustainable materials.
Since the dawn of human existence, mankind has developed various building methods; unfortunately, these practices now need to be reimagined and transitioned to materials that do not contribute to carbon emissions. This isn’t the time for side comments like, “It’s not our responsibility to fix men’s mistakes.” The focus should be on how Women of Carbon are addressing a much larger issue and how their conversations are supported by facts, reason, examples, solutions, and decisive action plans in combating climate change.
In conversation with director Basia Myszynski, she notes that women are among the most active participants in sustainability across various sectors—policy, education, innovation, and leadership. This critical realization motivated her to create the documentary with her partner, Leonard Myszynski, emphasizing the vital role women in construction play.
(Left to right): Lisa Conway, Mija Hubler, Freya Burton, Laura Hines-Pierce, Yasemin Kologlu, Stacy Smedley, Leah Ellis, Jennifer Holmgren, and Jenny Yang.
Women of Carbon seamlessly brings together CEOs, architects, engineers, and climate advocates, showcasing the impressive contributions of women like Mija Hubler, Stacy Smedley, Freya Burton, Jennifer Holmgren, Leah Ellis, Laura Hines-Pierce, and Lisa Conway, to name a few. Their work in sustainable steel, mass timber, and alternative cement highlights how innovative solutions in construction can significantly impact society, wellness and the environment.
While carbon is everywhere, the challenge lies in the excessive levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. The documentary masterfully explores how innovative thinkers are addressing these growing challenges through technological advancements. I can already hear someone say, “What about my tax dollars?” Well, hold onto your hard hat, because this film is about to show you exactly how your money is being spent—spoiler alert: it’s way more entertaining than watching construction workers tear up the sidewalk! And yes, they have a solution for how concrete is made and replaced. One of the featured women, Dr. Mija Hubler, Co-Founder of Prometheus Materials, Co-Director of the Center for Infrastructure Energy and Space Testing, and Associate Professor at CU Boulder, is developing a "living material" designed to reduce cement emissions by over 90%.
(Left to right): Kate Simonen, Rena Simon, Rachael Jamison, Tabitha S. Stine, Anyeley Hallová, Cristy Fiander, Kari Pei, Susan Jones, and Erica Spiritos.
Corruption can pose a significant barrier to implementing effective environmental policies, but innovators are pushing politicians to take action. This is evident in California, which has released the world's first plan to achieve net-zero carbon pollution by 2045. Women of Carbon delivers a beautifully woven message for the next generation regarding their role in addressing climate change, especially as various influences can divert youth from pursuing STEM fields.
What’s next for Women of Carbon? Basia is taking a unique approach, stating, “our distribution strategy will be distinctive. We’re currently screening the film in major cities across the U.S. through sponsored events, universities, and museums, with plans for streaming in 2025.” She also highlighted the increasing interest in showcasing the film at various venues across Europe. As the journey unfolds, the potential for growth and impact remains limitless.
As Women of Carbon comes to a close, I found myself captivated by each woman's multifaceted nature, demonstrating that their industry or executive title does not define them. Each individual has layers of depth that invite deeper exploration beyond the surface. Join us in celebrating the inspiring women featured in Women of Carbon by checking out my exclusive interviews with Stacy Smedley, and Dr. Mija Hubler. Dive deeper into their insights and experiences beyond the title and be part of the conversation about climate change. Together, we can make a difference!
Share your thoughts on Women of Carbon in the comments below and let us know how you plan to contribute to decarbonization efforts in your community!