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Energy and Gender

Introduction

Energy and Gender

UNECE is helping countries to bridge the gender gap and accelerate the energy transition. To date research and advocacy on women in sustainable energy highlight the significant roles women play in achieving resilient and carbon neutral energy systems.

The energy sector is missing out on the experiences, skills, and talents of much of half the human population, which severely constrains the sustainable energy transition. In addition to a larger skilled workforce, there are several advantages in bridging the gender gap within the energy sector. Gender disparities in the energy sector have been observed around the world. Women are less represented in policymaking, corporate leadership and governance, as entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, and in the labour workforce. Indeed, as it relates to employment, the energy sector is the least gender diverse. While predominantly embedded in the traditionally male-dominated energy sector, opportunities for women abound throughout all these areas.

Studies emphasize the importance of gender-responsive approaches to energy planning and development, recognizing women's unique needs, capabilities, and contributions. Addressing gender disparities in access to energy resources and decision-making processes is crucial for achieving equitable and sustainable energy outcomes, as well as advancing broader gender equality and social development goals.

In focus

Energy Transition and Post-Covid-19 Socioeconomic Recovery: Role of Women and Impact on Them The transition of the global energy system is leading society towards an innovative future, offering an opportunity to transcend the current global economy in favour of a more sustainable one. Equal gender participation in this endeavour can help society leap to a future of technological advancement in the energy sector. This report analyzes key issues, bottlenecks and possible solutions, providing empirical case studies of five UNECE member States: Albania, Belarus, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan.

The upcoming Beijing+30 Review will be the opportunity to appraise the progress made in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and strengthen gender-responsive action and implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDG7 that aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. The activities under the Committee on Sustainable Energy and its subsidiary bodies underscore the need for gender-responsive approaches to sustainable energy development, recognizing women's expertise and contributions in this critical area. Efforts to advance gender equality and sustainable energy are mutually reinforcing and essential for achieving just energy transition and build resilient and carbon neutral energy systems.

Highlights

ACTIVITIES 

  1. Women in Resource Management  promotes gender and diversity within the framework of sustainable resource management, with a particular focus on the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.
  2. Female inclusion in extractive industries: research shows that women are highly underrepresented in most extractive industries. In oil, gas, and mining sectors they remain underrepresented virtually at all levels, yet the imbalance is the most striking at senior ones.