Martha Schwartz

Women leaders have been pivotal in reshaping our world, with names like Indira Gandhi, Golda Meir, and Margaret Thatcher echoing through history. These women exemplify excellence across diverse fields, from politics to business. But women have also made remarkable strides in industries like landscape architecture. One such trailblazer is Martha Schwartz, whose visionary leadership is making waves not only in her field but in the global conversation about climate change.

As a founding partner of Martha Schwartz Partners (MSP), a distinguished international design practice, Schwartz has spent nearly 50 years revolutionizing the way we think about urban spaces and natural environments. MSP, situated at the crossroads of landscape architecture, urban design, and environmental considerations, has left its mark with work that regenerates, activates, and beautifies public spaces and brownfield sites, collaborating with city leaders and planners on a strategic level.

Schwartz, always solutions-driven, has cultivated a reputation for identifying problems and driving positive change in the field of landscape architecture. “I have worked with many talented people, who were passionate about design and art. These are the people who have shaped what MSP is known for — its commitment to design excellence,” she shared. Although Schwartz no longer runs the company on a day-to-day basis, she remains deeply involved in preserving MSP’s legacy of innovation and high standards. “While I’m not at the helm, I am still very much engaged in ensuring our ‘design excellence’ stays intact,” she added.

An accomplished professional and dedicated mother of three, Schwartz also balances her career with teaching. For the past 30 years, she has been a Professor in Practice at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, guiding the next generation of landscape architects.

The Rise of an Artist and Architect

Schwartz’s journey into landscape architecture began in the fine arts at the University of Michigan, where she was drawn to the Earthworks movement — an art form that uses the land itself as a medium. Realizing that traditional art schools didn't offer classes in Earthworks, Schwartz pursued a master’s degree in landscape architecture, focusing on designing natural spaces.

Soon after graduating from Harvard, Schwartz created "The Bagel Garden" — an installation made by planting bagels from a local deli in front of her Boston home. The project, which was a playful critique of traditional landscape design, challenged perceptions and provoked thought about what constitutes art. Her work caught the attention of the American Society of Landscape Architects and even made its cover. While some critics dismissed it as frivolous, especially given that Schwartz was a woman, the younger generation of designers embraced the idea, leading to an expansion of creative possibilities within the landscape architecture profession.

Schwartz’s boldness as a "disruptor" has empowered many women to pursue their ideas unapologetically, showing that boldness in design and leadership can spark meaningful change.

From Landscape Architect to Climate Change Advocate

In 2016, Schwartz’s focus shifted dramatically when she watched a YouTube video by Professor Peter Wadhams on the alarming risks of methane escaping from the Eastern Siberian Arctic Shelf. The video made it clear that climate change was an urgent issue that could no longer be ignored. “After watching the video, I realized that what I was doing as a landscape architect seemed irrelevant,” Schwartz said. “I have three children, and I want to leave them a better world, not one ravaged by the effects of climate change that I unknowingly helped cause.”

Driven by a desire to understand the science behind climate change, Schwartz immersed herself in learning about geoengineering, a field that explores large-scale interventions to combat global warming. She quickly became captivated by Solar Geoengineering, which includes methods like Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI), designed to cool the planet by reflecting sunlight back into space. Schwartz even taught a seminar at Harvard on geoengineering for designers, helping students understand how such interventions could be used to address climate challenges.

Her growing awareness of the disproportionate impact of climate change on the Global South has driven her to advocate for these countries, which are already experiencing the consequences of climate change more acutely than industrialized nations. With her background in landscape architecture, Schwartz views the issue of climate change not only as an environmental crisis but as a global equity issue.

MAYDAY.EARTH: A Call to Action

Determined to make a real difference, Schwartz founded MAYDAY.EARTH, a non-profit organization dedicated to researching and advocating for solar geoengineering and its potential to mitigate climate change. The organization also focuses on amplifying the voices of the Global South, ensuring that these vulnerable regions have access to the information and resources needed to tackle climate challenges.

Through MAYDAY.EARTH, Schwartz and her team work to raise awareness about the urgent need for climate adaptation and the importance of educating people worldwide, especially in the Global South. “Education is paramount,” Schwartz explained. “We want to connect individuals and organizations across the globe to learn about solar geoengineering and support its research.”

A New Vision for Landscape Architecture

As Schwartz delved deeper into climate science, she came to understand that the landscape architecture profession has a crucial role to play in tackling the effects of climate change. Urban landscapes, in particular, are vital for climate adaptation, especially as more people move into cities. Schwartz is a passionate advocate for the idea that landscape architecture can and should be a leader in developing strategies to make cities more resilient to climate change.

However, Schwartz argues that many within the "built environment" sector — including city planners, architects, and developers — fail to recognize the importance of the urban landscape in addressing climate issues. “The urban landscape is often invisible to the sector,” she remarked, “but it is absolutely critical to mitigating the effects of climate change.” Her goal is to raise awareness within the profession and help cities prepare for the future impacts of global warming, from sea-level rise to extreme heat.

MSP’s Commitment to the Future

Under Schwartz’s leadership, MSP has evolved to incorporate climate adaptation strategies into its work, ensuring that clients are aware of the risks posed by climate change and are prepared for the future. By collaborating with engineers, ecologists, and other experts, MSP offers design solutions that not only respond to today’s needs but also ensure the sustainability of urban environments for generations to come.

As Schwartz continues her advocacy for climate action, she remains steadfast in her belief that landscape architecture will be essential in shaping the future of our cities. “We need to start thinking about adaptation now,” she stressed. “The Global South is already facing the worst impacts of climate change, and cities in the Global North are not far behind. It’s time for landscape architects to step up and lead the charge in making our urban landscapes more resilient and sustainable.”

In a world where the climate crisis is increasingly urgent, Martha Schwartz is a leader who continues to push boundaries, using her expertise in landscape architecture to make a lasting impact on both the environment and society.