Women’s Empowerment in the Energy Transition: Using Human Rights as a Compass

GIESCR organised a parallel event focused on Women’s Empowerment in the Energy Transition: Using Human Rights as a Compass, at the Innovate 4 Climate conference, the preeminent global event on climate finance, climate investment and climate markets held virtually over 3 days, from May 24-26.

The energy transition is imperative to halting the ongoing climate crisis. However, decarbonising energy systems does not imply these will automatically deliver more equitable and gender just outcomes than their fossil fuel forebears. The massive mobilisation of social and economic resources required for the green transition must recognize existing inequalities and steer our societies towards a more equitable provision of economic, social, and cultural rights.

This event convened a group of civil society organisations and experts to explore the gender dimensions of the energy transition and its implications for climate justice. It created a space for stakeholders to ruminate about the significance of using human rights as a guiding compass within the green energy transition to ensure it is just and gender-responsive and to build incentives for public and private actors to follow good practices already existing on the ground. 

Speakers

• Alejandra Lozano, Programme Officer – Climate & Environmental Justice, Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

• Aleksandar Macura, Co-Founder and Programme Director, RES Foundation.

• Marine Cornellis, Executive Director, Next Energy Consumer.

• Liliana Avila, Senior Attorney, Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense.

The event was also an opportunity to challenge gender stereotypes and celebrate women’s roles as key actors of change, as well as to explore how to harnesses women’s full potential to rethink the way we power our societies and reshape the course of the energy transitions to ensure a sustainable,  gender, and climate-just future for all.