Ex-Pilot Plants Trees, Shifts Focus

Why this is here: Researchers have found that the gap in climate concern between men and women widens as a country’s wealth increases, with men’s concern actually decreasing in wealthier nations.

Mike Smith, a former US fighter pilot, now focuses on reforestation and climate tech after witnessing lasting damage from a wildfire in Idaho. Smith transitioned from a military career to planting roughly two million trees and founding a company to reduce emissions. He observed a disparity in climate concern between men and women, a pattern political scientist Amanda Clayton calls the “green gender gap.”

Clayton’s research indicates that as countries become wealthier, women express greater climate concern while men’s concern decreases. This shift is linked to perceived financial and cultural costs of clean energy, potentially threatening traditional masculine roles as providers. Psychologist Vidar Vetterfalk with the Swedish organization MÄN facilitates conversations with men, encouraging connection rather than blame.

Smith believes framing climate action as a purposeful mission—similar to his Navy service—can engage more men, and notes his background lends credibility to the conversation. However, the reasons behind the gender gap and how to effectively reach skeptical men remain areas for continued exploration.