Gender equality as the plank of sustainable development
1 of 2 Damilola Ogunbiyi
is the CEO and Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy
for All (SEforALL)
Though women have a key role in energy access, production, and
consumption, they face barriers, limiting their participation and
impact in the energy sector
Conversations around gender equality and women’s empowerment continue to
gain momentum. We, however, would like to reflect on an issue that is often
overlooked, which is the critical intersection between gender equality and
sustainable energy development. Time and again, studies have proven that
gender equality and women’s empowerment are fundamental to achieving
sustainable energy for all. The achievement of all Sustainable Development Goals
(SDG) is in one way or another dependent on gender equality. In fact, strong
connections exist among SDG5 on gender equality, SDG7 on clean, a!ordable
energy, and SDG12 on climate action, among many others.
Gender equality is not just a matter of social justice; it is also a prerequisite for
sustainable development. Women play a crucial role in energy access, production,
and consumption. Yet, they often face significant barriers that limit their
participation and impact in the energy sector. This gender disparity not only
hampers individual opportunities but also hinders overall economic growth and
environmental sustainability.
Gender equality in energy access
Gender equality in energy access
In many parts of the world, women bear primary responsibility for household
energy management that includes cooking, heating, and lighting. However,
research has shown that energy infrastructure tends to reach women last, yet the
lack of access to modern energy a!ects women and children disproportionately.
For example, lack of access to clean and reliable energy sources, forces women to
rely on traditional and harmful alternatives such as biomass and kerosene.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), household air pollution leads
to a staggering 3.2 million premature deaths each year — nearly half of all air
pollution-related deaths — 60% of which are women and children. This not only
perpetuates energy poverty but also exposes women and their families to health
risks associated with household air pollution.
Another aspect that is particularly worrying is that the energy sector remains one
of the least gender-diverse sectors. Women represent 32% of full-time employees
in the renewable energy sector and only 22% in the energy sector overall; this is in
comparison to 48% of women workers in the global labour force. In India, for
example, only 10% of women hold technical posts in the energy sector, as per the
International Energy Agency (IEA). This gender disparity is fuelled by disparities in
educational access, restricted opportunities for women to acquire technical skills
and training, and inequitable company policies, among other contributing factors.
Bridging the gender gap
Tackling these challenges requires a change in perception towards women’s role
in the energy sector and concerted e!orts to mainstream gender in energy
policies at the sub-national, national and international levels. Governments, non-
state actors, international institutions and philanthropic organisations have a
critical role to play in providing an enabling environment, innovative solutions and
transformative platforms to not only increase access to clean energy but also
deliver groundbreaking solutions to promote women’s meaningful participation in
the sustainable energy transition.
Initiatives such as the Women at the Forefront programme and the Energy
Transitions Innovation Challenge (ENTICE) provide a forum for individuals,
especially women, to embark on entrepreneurial ventures and drive collective
action for sustainable energy practices.
We also see an opportunity for Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE), which are
already being deployed by various State governments in India in collaboration
with philanthropic organisations, to quickly provide a!ordable energy access and
reduce the everyday drudgery of women’s work, thereby increasing their
productivity. Solar Mamas is one inspirational initiative started in India by Barefoot
College to train illiterate women to become solar engineers, bringing clean power
College to train illiterate women to become solar engineers, bringing clean power
and light to their communities.
It is evident that empowering women in the energy sector is not just the right
thing to do. It is also a smart investment in our collective future. Studies have
shown that closing the gender gap in employment and entrepreneurship could
boost global GDP by trillions of dollars.
Similarly, increasing women’s participation in the energy sector can lead to more
innovative solutions, increased productivity, and enhanced social and
environmental outcomes. A recent report conducted by Powering Livelihoods has
indicated that more than 71% of the early adopters of clean technology livelihood
appliances in India, totalling over 16,000, are women.
With the passage of International Women’s Day, it is important to recognise that
the dialogue on gender and energy has clearly shifted from women being
identified as part of vulnerable groups to acknowledging them as key agents of
change, as consumers, producers, distributors and decision makers across the
energy sector.
Gender-responsive and women-led initiatives have been successful in the clean
energy space. That is why, this is the right time to harness the power of women
and energy to create a more inclusive, prosperous, and sustainable world for
present and future generations.
