Gender and the Energy Transition: the Hidden Face of Women in Energy Poverty

In the pursuit of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, it is imperative to acknowledge and address the multifaceted challenges they face, especially in a world where economic crises, such as energy shortages, disproportionately impact women and girls. This year’s theme of the CSW resonates deeply with the current global landscape, where women bear a disproportionate burden in the face of rising living costs and the connecting energy crisis. 

As the institute 75inQ, our mission is to shed light on the hidden gendered face of the challenges to achieve a just energy transition. During times of economic turmoil, persistent gender inequalities, such as the income gap and limited financial flexibility, weigh more heavily on women. Consequently, women are more frequently impacted by energy poverty, especially in single-headed households, which are predominantly headed by women. Women based on their gendered roles in care responsibilities heavily depend on energy services for homework, such as cooking, cleaning and childcare. The double burden of care duties and sufficient energy services to carry them out not only strains their financial resources but also limits their opportunities for economic advancement. This highlights the urgent need for targeted assistance and social programs in energy transition policy to support these families.  

We, as 75inQ, therefore argue that, due to the challenges particularly women face related to the energy transition, the agreed conclusions of the CSW68 should call on member states to: 

1. Close the gender pay gap and gender care gap 

Promoting gender equality in both economic and caregiving spheres is essential to tackle the enduring disparities in pay and care responsibilities. The persistent gender pay gap not only exacerbates women’s vulnerability to rising energy costs but also hinders their access to essential services, including energy provisions. Similarly, the unequal distribution of unpaid care work further marginalizes women economically, as they often bear the primary responsibility of caregiving within households, limiting their workforce participation and exacerbating their economic vulnerability.  Balancing caregiving responsibilities between genders is imperative to enable women to advance in their careers and to alleviate the financial burdens they face associated with the high cost of living. 

2. Strengthen institutions and increase female empowerment 

To address poverty and empower women effectively, it is crucial to strengthen institutions and financing mechanisms with a gender perspective. By promoting gender equality within energy communities and ensuring inclusive decision-making processes, institutions can empower women and girls in the transition towards sustainable energy solutions. Women may be major energy consumers due to their responsibilities, but are not always the primary decision-makers when it comes to energy-related choices. It is therefore crucial to recognize women not just as energy consumers, but also as key stakeholders in shaping energy policies and initiatives. Gender inequalities limit women’s agency and ability to influence decision-making, while it is of utmost importance that their voices and perspectives are represented in decision-making processes and leadership positions within energy companies and organizations. To truly advance gender equality and to empower women in the energy transition, we must advocate for greater representation of women in boardrooms, executive positions and across all levels of the energy workforce, not only creating diversity and inclusion fostering a more equitable workforce, but also more innovative solutions and a better reflection of the diverse needs of society, both now and in the years to come. 

3. Collect, report and monitor gender-disaggregated data  

Furthermore, financing initiatives with a gender perspective is vital to accelerating progress towards gender equality. Compulsory gender impact assessments should be instituted for all proposed policies including gender-disaggregated data. This data should be collected, reported and monitored on the inclusive energy transition at a macro, meso and micro level to have a better assessment of the impact of the energy transition on women. By doing so, policymakers and stakeholders can gain a deeper understanding of how energy-related challenges affect women and men differently, thereby enabling more effective and equitable interventions and empower women to thrive in sustainable energy solutions.

In conclusion, combating the multifaceted challenges of gender inequality, economic hardships and energy deficiencies, requires a comprehensive strategy prioritized on the empowerment of women and girls in all their diversity. By recognizing the gendered dimensions of these issues, we can strive towards a more equitable, sustainable and inclusive world where everyone has equal opportunities to flourish.

By Tessa Naber & Marielle Feenstra, 75inQ

Want to read more about the gender dimension of the energy transition? Have a look at our 75inQ library: https://75inq.com/services/library/ 

There you can also find our recently published reports:  

• GENDER AND ENERGY: THE EFFECTS OF THE ENERGY TRANSITION ON WOMEN with the Joint Research Center of the European Union 
• GENDER ASPECTS OF THE RISING COST OF LIVING AND THE IMPACT OF THE ENERGY CRISIS as requested by the FEMM Committee of the European Parliament