Energy
Chapter 2 GLOBAL GENDER AND ENVIRONMENT OUTLOOK
renewable energy availability. Many renewable energy technologies are already significantly cheaper than diesel- or kerosene-based systems and, in the longer run, using them would be cheaper than extending the grid in areas with low energy demand per capita. Renewable energy also offers more security and greater reliability than fossil fuels (with no need for imported fuel).
Renewables have become vital to rural electrification programmes in many countries in recent years. Over the past decade advances in renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies, global increases in capacity, and rapid cost reductions have made both renewables and greater energy efficiency increasingly attractive to private and public investors.
Renewables and gender empowerment
Safe and affordable energy is essential for women’s empowerment, for reducing their unpaid work burden, for improving health and quality of life, and for overall development (ENERGIA et al. 2006). To the extent that renewable technology extends energy to communities and households that were previously not served, the potential for gender empowerment is also increased.
A comprehensive analysis of the incomes of women entrepreneurs in the renewable energy sector has not been undertaken. However, there is increasing evidence of entrepreneurial success in the renewables field (Box 2.3.7, 2.3.8). Moreover, a “solidarity economy” is developing around renewables. There are many successful examples of renewable energy co-operatives in which women work together to provide mutual support. Small-scale renewable projects are business,
training and empowerment entry points for women: the transition to sustainable energy may signal a change in the current paradigm from one where women are passive providers and users of energy, to one where they have agency and leadership roles in promoting sustainable energy technologies and inclusive growth.
The way forward
Renewable energies are projected to grow significantly in the near future. Moderate outlooks project a renewable energy share of 30-45% by 2050 (REN21 2013). Energy efficiency is predicted to make even greater advances. Governments will need to have effective support policies to enable this major transformation in the energy markets and infrastructure. If the following conditions are met, renewable energy development will be a very powerful catalyst for gender equality.
• Avoid the negative gender and human rights impacts of large-scale renewable energy development. From monoculture biomass plantations to hydropower dams, gender-equality safeguards and women’s equal participation in all stages of the renewable energy cycle need to be ensured, including through monitoring, evaluation and verification schemes and participation by women’s civil society organizations in these schemes.
• A foremost priority for all energy plans must be to enable safe and sustainable household energy. Enabling the creation of local renewable energy user groups and cooperatives, and empowering women to fully participate in all levels of decision- making, will be essential for sustainable success.
• Financial mechanisms need to be created; low- interest rate loans, start-up and capacity building grants, solidarity pricing mechanisms and specific access for women to funding should be developed.
• Ensure that policies, programmes and projects equitably valorize women’s and men’s time and labour burdens and expenditures (UNIDO and UN Women 2013).
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Engineers working by wind turbines field Photo Credit: © Jgoodluz/Shutterstock
• Recognize women as independent users of energy solutions and enable them to benefit from energy access, taking into consideration the challenges of land ownership/rights, access to credit, and social constraints (UNIDO and UN Women 2013).
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