Many shades of pink in the energy transition: Seeing women in extraction, production, distribution, and consumption sites

Keywords: Energy transition, Energy sub-systems, Gender blindness, Women’s agency, Justice
Session Type: Virtual Paper
Day: Wednesday
Session Start / End Time: 4/7/2021 03:05 PM (Pacific Time (US & Canada)) - 4/7/2021 04:20 PM (Pacific Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 40

Abstract

The climate change crisis compels jurisdictions across the globe to decarbonize their energy systems, including by expanding the use of renewable energy, but women are barely seen in this energy transition, which entrenches inequalities. This paper looks at women along the lifecycle of renewable energy from sites of extraction and generation to distribution and consumption. Based on eight published case studies from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, the study uses thematic analysis to ask: How are women exercising agency in different energy subsystems? And how does the transition in the various sub-systems affect women’s lives in general, and gender equality in particular? The study documents that women mainly exert agency at local levels and remain marginal actors with limited decision-making authority. It also highlights contrasting women experiences along the renewable energy lifecycle, with cases of resistance and alliance to energy operations, and experiences of more or less meaningful participation. The paper stresses that addressing gender blindness in the energy transition requires more than switching energy sources and increasing the number of women employed in the energy sector. I suggest that women may use civil society fora to join forces, present their local experiences, and identify ways to challenge patriarchal energy decision-making and promote justice in the energy transition