How Can We Accelerate Women’s Participation In Energy Transitions?

It is a known reality that women face a disproportionate impact of climate change due to underlying demographic and socio-economic factors. According to the UN Environment, 80% of people displaced by climate change are women. Access to clean energy is still a distant dream for many in India, with 40% of people without access to clean fuel for cooking in the country, as per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS). Transitioning from traditional fuel to clean energy sources can have a huge impact on women’s lives due to their traditional role as primary decision-makers regarding the use of energy in households. 

The imperative of a gender-focused transition

The transition to clean energy needs to take the role of women into account for a fair and equal transition. Gender mainstreaming is central to the transition. A shift towards the transition to reliable and clean energy will allow them enough time to pursue income-generating activities, enhancing their economic autonomy without posing a threat to their health and well-being. This can ensure wider access as well as uptake of clean energy and help in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

A gender-focused transition not only requires increased representation of women in the energy sector but also at the leadership level where negotiations on energy transition happen. Women are not only vulnerable to the climate crisis, but their representation at the decision-making table is also very low. As per the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), women accounted for less than 34% of the countries’ negotiating teams at COP27 in Egypt. Only 15 out of 110 heads of state who attended COP28 were women, according to the Financial Times. Also, only 10 percent of women hold leadership positions in the energy sector in India, as per the International Energy Agency (IEA).

How can we improve women's representation in the energy sector? 

Improving access to clean energy, promoting inclusive decision-making, offering affordable clean cooking technologies, and creating gender-responsive policies will help address the specific energy needs and challenges faced by women. Investing in their education, capacity building, and training in the energy sector will go a long way in equipping them to be future-ready and be a significant contributor as part of the workforce.

It's not merely about the numerical representation of women; the emphasis should be on ensuring women take on leadership roles and actively advocate for energy policies. A study conducted globally by Deliver for Good indicated that women in leadership positions are more inclined to endorse climate action and sustainability. For example, nations with a higher representation of women in parliamentary roles exhibit a greater likelihood of ratifying environmental treaties and implementing policies aimed at addressing climate change. 

Collaboration for gender mainstreaming

Fostering gender equality and inclusivity in the energy sector needs active intervention from stakeholders. Cross-sectoral partnerships are essential to encourage meaningful participation of women in energy transition efforts. Some aspects that need to be in focus are:

• Developing targeted programs and policies - this is needed to enhance gender balance and equality within the energy sector and empower young women entrepreneurs. Various organisations are now focusing on innovation challenges which provide incentives and encouragement to entrepreneurs eager to scale up their clean energy solutions.
• Initiating inclusivity from the top - elevating women's leadership and visibility can encourage collective action for sustainable practices and policies. Leaders need to create enabling environments to ensure equality of opportunity so that more women feel motivated to aspire for decision-making roles. This responsibility lies not just with female leaders but also with male leaders. Various cross-network endeavours in Asia and around the world enhance the prominence of women leaders, who are catalysts for climate action.

What Is The Way Forward?

Mainstreaming gender in energy is not just a matter of equity; it is an important step for building a sustainable and inclusive energy future. As the saying goes, empowering women has a ripple effect on the whole society. Bringing more women into the energy sector will ensure the benefits of clean energy reach everyone. To achieve gender-inclusive energy justice, a concerted effort from governments, businesses, and civil society is required. 

The issue of gender mainstreaming has made headway into UNFCCC discussions since 2019. COP28 showed utmost courage and commitment by identifying gender equality as a thematic priority under the conference agenda to ensure women’s participation in UNFCCC’s processes and also dedicating a first-ever pavilion on the issue of gender to drive the systemic transformation needed towards integrating a gender perspective into the climate discussion. However,  to actualise the outcome of these discussions, emphasis needs to be on concrete action to mainstream gender consideration in climate and energy policies rather than just positioning them as tokens of representation. An inclusive and people-positive transition can only be achieved through full and equal participation, leadership and decision-making through women and girls.

Authored by Vaishali Mishra, Director, Communications and Advocacy, Asia, GEAPP