On September 26, 2023, the Expert Exchange “Just Energy Transition for All – Gendering the debate” convened experts from the IKI JET partner countries Chile and Colombia, the Wuppertal Institute, the World Bank, and CEPAL to discuss gender-based challenges and opportunities in just energy transitions. The event showcased the vital role that women play in advocating for their rights and needs in the context of coal phase-out.

Research Insights

Dr. Mohr and Kate Zhou described that a “common” approach to coal phase-out is providing former miners with new jobs. However, this ignores others living in coal communities who are not formally employed by a mining company. Women comprise only a small percentage of the formal workforce and mostly work in small-scale, artisanal, and informal sectors.

Focusing on the formally employed workforce makes women more vulnerable in coal phase-out processes, especially if their perspectives are not included in transition plans. Additionally, women face unique risks, such as increased domestic violence and additional workloads due to both working in an income-generating job and doing unpaid work in the domestic sphere.

While enhancing already existing vulnerabilities in coal phase-out processes, the energy transition can provide an opportunity to positively affect women’s labour and living conditions. One way to support women in the transition is through economic empowerment—for example, by financing women-led initiatives.

Regional Experiences

The above-mentioned impacts were confirmed by experts from Chile and Colombia, who shared examples from their experiences working with women in coal-dependent regions. Dr. Fernández, Rosa Mateus and Diana Alvarez have seen many women in the regions take agency in the fight for their rights, recognition, demands, and needs in just energy transitions. Engaging and addressing men in efforts for gender equality has proven successful and is necessary for a just energy transition for all.

Naja Vargas Noriega added that gendered inequalities prevail in many energy contexts and overlap with other inequalities like food security. However, CEPAL is observing that in many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, gender mainstreaming has found its way into policy-making. To drive these efforts, CEPAL is collecting and analysing more gender-disaggregated data to facilitate gender mainstreaming in the energy sector.

Key takeaways from all speakers:

• Awareness is key.
  Education about the complexities of a just transition and how genders are affected differently by it is needed.
• Transition will happen either by design or by disaster.
  All those affected will need to be included at all levels of decision-making processes. The question is not only who gets a seat at the table but also how many of one group.
• Local context matters.
  “Women” cannot be understood as a homogenous group. Depending on various factors—for example, ethnicity, age or financial status—women live different experiences and therefore their demands and needs differ.
• The need for male champions.
  Debates around gender remain mainly discussed by women, even though discussions around norms, roles, and masculinity facilitate gender equality efforts for a just energy transition.

Speakers

Dr. Kerstin Mohr (Wuppertal Institute)
Kate Jinghua Zhou (World Bank)
Dr. Juanita Isabel Fernández Álamos (Mujeres de Zona de Sacrificio en Resistencia)
Diana Marcela Alvarez Rojas (Tierra Digna)
Rosa María Mateus Parra (Colectivo de Abogados y Abogadas José Alvear Restrepo)
Naja Vargas Noriega (CEPAL)

See the full presentation here:

Watch the full recording here:

Read more from our Expert Exchange series: Skilling, Upskilling and Reskilling for a Just Transition in Coal Regions