Renewable Energy access as a catalyst for Women’s empowerment

Renewable Energy access as a catalyst for Women’s empowerment: exploring the benefits of clean energy in improving the lives of women

Matsilo Nkabane

Universal access to clean energy is significant to improving the health and wellbeing of people around the world.

It strengthens live hoods, boosts economies and mitigates climate change. Despite its importance, the energy sector remains one of the least gender diverse industries which have maintained a pervasive male-dominated culture.

In order for the energy transition to be truly just and equal, it is essential that gender equality prevails by ensuring that women are represented in all roles especially positions of leadership and decision making.

Historically, women have been underrepresented in the clean energy industry with men largely dominating the sector. Women remain underrepresented in leadership positions, technical roles and entrepreneurial ventures.

The common challenges facing women are lack of access to education, gender norms which have perpetually have held women back in pursuing in industries like the energy sector. When women are left behind and are subjected to poverty more than men.

Additionally, Climate change continues to negatively affect women economic development by exacerbating the social, economic and cultural factors that increase the marginalization of women across different cultures.

Providing opportunities in clean energy is an essential step in improving the lives of women by reducing gender equality, promoting economic growth and achieving sustainable development. It is crucial that Women should be equal stakeholders in renewable energy. Increasing women’s participation in clean energy will promote training and educational opportunities particularly in the fields of STEM.

There must be an increase in the recruitment and facilitations of training of women  in the clean energy sector particularly underrepresented groups including women of colour, LGBTQ+Women groups.

Addressing the gender gap in renewable energy is important to achieve sustainable development, it is important that the gender gap in is reached.  This can be achieved through training and employment in the clean energy sector and addressing all the barriers that hinder women participation especially rural women who face severe challenges due to the increasing impacts of climate change.

Women’s economic empowerment is crucial in to achieving women’s rights and gender equality by ensuring that women participate in and benefit from decent work and social protection. According to IRENA’s world Energy Transitions Outlook 2022 report, by 2030 there will be 139 Million jobs in the energy sector worldwide.

The reliance on fuel and biomass are some of the factors that increase air pollution and health impacts for women. Increasing women’s participation in clean energy economy will enhance women’s progress on climate action and help eradicate poverty by providing jobs in the sector. Climate change mitigation is directly interlinked with sustainable development goals. Goal 5 on gender equality, goal 7 on clean and affordable energy and goal 13 on climate action.

According to a research by UNEP (2020), renewable energy can increase the quality of lives of both men and women. For example, power machines that wash, cool, grind, sew, press and cook efficiently therefore easing burdens, increasing efficiency, and quality of produce and saving time. Clean energy can transform the lives of remote and rural women.

The clean energy economy needs women’s engagement across all sectors. Inorder to promote gender equality in renewable energy, women must participate in all levels in the energy industry including policy and decision making as their involvement in decision making and policy making will support better and more inclusive solutions furthermore.

Research has revealed that countries with more female participation in clean energy are more likely to be stronger in climate action. More Female representation in legislative bodies means that policies in climate action will be inclusive.

Policy and advocacy is needed to promote women empowerment in the energy sector this can be done by supporting gender sensitive energy policies, advocating for women’s rights and promoting women leadership in clean energy. 

It is important for countries to develop more inclusive and effective energy policies that are well researched and integrated to suit the needs of women thereby contributing to gender equality and sustainability. We can empower women, energize the future and create a cleaner and equitable world for all.

MATSILO NKABANE is LESOTHO Correspondent of Mahabahu. Matsilo is M.A in Governance and Regional Integration. Researcher in Political Science: Corporate Governance, Gender, Climate Action, media and Artificial intelligence, African History, Democracy

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