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The Energy Transition Leaves Women Out in the Cold: The Gendered Face of Energy Policy
By Dr. Mariëlle Feenstra, scientific director 75inQ
Women are sidelined in the energy transition policies: it is essential to have policy awareness of gender inequality and an acknowledgement of societal diversity to foster a fair energy transition. In this essay, the international, European and Dutch policy narrative around just energy transitions is commented on from a gender perspective.
The energy transition policies neglect the interests of women: a policy awareness of gender inequality and acknowledgement of societal diversity are pivotal in shaping a fair energy transition. The ongoing energy transition provides an excellent opportunity to advocate for a systemic change rooted in the vision of a vibrant, just, and egalitarian society, as acknowledged by the European Union in the European Green Deal. However, I argue that achieving a just energy transition demands a reimagined governmental role, characterized by a more mission- and guidance-oriented approach towards social justice. This new role is no small feat, requiring not only an understanding of the technical, economic, and social intricacies of the energy transition but also a consideration of societal diversity. In this essay, I argue that policy sensitivity to gender inequality and diversity in general is indispensable for ensuring and shaping a fair energy transition.
While there is a growing policy focus on energy poverty in Europe and globally embedded in the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All programme current policies predominantly centre around the sustainability, affordability, and energy efficiency of housing. When analysing the National Energy Climate Plans (NECP), the European Member States highlight in the obligatory energy poverty sections that the current energy poverty crisis stems more from an insulation issue rather than an affordability one. Yet, while retrofitting and insulation support help to alleviate energy poverty, it falls short of addressing the systemic social inequality that places large segments of the population in vulnerable positions.
Taking a closer look at the specific groups disproportionately affected by the current energy crisis in Europe, it becomes evident that women in particular, are being marginalized. With persistent income disparities between men and women, a disproportionately high caregiving burden for (single) women, and a higher concentration of female tenants in social housing, energy poverty emerges as a problem that disproportionately impacts women.
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As a society, we had barely overcome the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic when an unprecedented energy crisis hit. The unpredictable and global nature of this crisis places significant demands on the resilience and adaptability of our society. However, within every community, there are individuals who lack the capacity to respond resiliently to crises on such a massive scale. Particularly, the most vulnerable members often possess a much lower ability to absorb the shocks of a crisis.
In this unpredictable scenario, governments, businesses, and civil society organizations are actively engaged in the energy transition. However, the energy transition is not solely a technological endeavour, as evidenced by the challenges in insulating existing housing stock. The overrepresentation of women in energy poverty not only calls for increased attention to gender disparities in the energy transition but also demands an understanding of how policy can effectively address social inequality within our society.
For several years, researchers have observed significant disparities in the participation of different societal groups in the energy transition. Currently, those with the financial means to invest in energy-efficient housing tend to enjoy lower energy costs. On the other hand, residents who are unable or prohibited (such as tenants) from making such investments face higher energy bills. Disparities in income, housing quality, responsibilities for dependent family members (children and/or informal care), specific energy dependence (due to factors like diet, physical and mental disability, business activities, mobility), and financial opportunities to invest in energy efficiency contribute to a widening gap between those participating in the energy transition and those left behind.
This gap has a pronounced gender component. In the Netherlands, approximately 700,000 women over the age of 25 lack sufficient income to meet their daily needs. Seventy-two percent of low-income single women serve as the primary breadwinners for their families. One in five households with low energy efficiency in the Netherlands is a single-parent family (on average, one in twenty families in the Netherlands is a single-parent family). Struggling with insufficient income, they bear both the caregiving task and the associated costs, with insulation of an energy-inefficient house being just one of the many financial burdens on this group.
A just energy transition aligns with the principle of solidarity, where those with more resources shoulder heavier burdens to compensate for those who have less investment capacity. The current inadequacy in reflecting the diversity of society in energy policy hinders the successful implementation of the energy transition, which requires broad commitment and social support.
The success of the transition depends on a strong human capital agenda, as stipulated in several NECPs of the European member states. However, an examination of the workforce in sectors actively contributing to the energy transition reveals a predominantly male presence. In the Dutch energy transition, only 22% of the workforce is comprised of women, a figure significantly trailing behind the European average. Consequently, a mere 4% of women hold decision-making positions among these active participants in the energy transition.
Traditionally, women have been underrepresented in this sector, despite the diverse insights and skills required for the energy transition. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) projects a global increase in jobs in the sustainable energy sector from 10.3 million in 2017 to nearly 29 million in 2050. Essentially, the energy sector is expanding alongside the energy transition, highlighting the untapped labour potential of women to meet the rising demand for a highly skilled workforce. Encouraging lateral entry from other sectors can also be part of the solution, provided that these entrants (regardless of gender) receive support through employment conditions and programs combining work and study.
A frequently cited reason for gender inequality in the energy sector is its historical emphasis on technical aspects. The proportion of women with technical education in the Europe has persistently remained low for decades. However, the sector is grappling with a growing labour shortage and challenges in filling numerous vacancies. Importantly, the challenges in the energy transition extend beyond technical aspects to encompass social, legal, societal, political, and spatial dimensions.
Furthermore, the energy transition unfolds within the homes of end users, with a significant focus on energy consumption behaviour in households. The first-hand experiences of energy consumers (regardless of gender) could offer valuable insights for the energy sector, which needs to adopt a more demand-driven approach to engage end-users in the energy transition. A more diverse workforce in the energy sector can contribute to interventions that are more attuned to the diverse energy needs in society and better resonate with a demand-driven energy transition.
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Amidst the current surge in energy prices, the social dimension of the energy transition comes to the forefront. This underscores the importance of considering all energy consumers, especially when crafting interventions to prompt changes in energy consumption behaviour.
Research indicates that a gender-focused approach is crucial in intervention programs, given that energy-saving practices impact the timing and nature of household tasks. There is a risk of exacerbating the already disproportionate workload for women, who, on average, dedicate 4.5 hours daily to unpaid domestic work (compared to 2.5 hours for men). Simultaneously, the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) finds that women exhibit more sustainable consumer behaviour than men. They place a higher value on products with eco-labels and sustainability, and they are more willing to adapt their energy consumption behaviour toward sustainable alternatives.
In conclusion, I argue that decision-making in the energy transition, as well as the design and implementation of effective interventions, necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the technical, economic, and social challenges involved. Achieving a reflection of societal diversity in energy transition interventions requires increased diversity in the boardrooms of the energy sector—diversity in people, language, and data. Despite women constituting at least 50% of energy consumers in households, the meagre female representation in the energy sector's boardrooms invites a broader perspective. Recognizing that diversity enhances decision-making processes, it is socially imperative to ensure concerted efforts in establishing and maintaining a diverse and inclusive governance culture in the energy transition. Energy poverty carries a distinct gender dimension, and an affordable and sustainable energy transition for everyone lays the groundwork for the vision of a vibrant, just, and equal society.
Mariëlle Feenstra
Dr. Mariëlle Feenstra is co-founder and scientific director of 75inQ, the Institute on gender and energy promoting more visibility for diversity in the energy transition. After 15 years as a policy advisor for municipalities in the Netherlands, she returned to academia with her PhD project “Gender Just Energy Policy: engendering the energy transition in Europe” graduated in 2021 at University Twente, the Netherlands. She has been working on gender and energy since 2000. Her contribution as a gender-energy pioneer has been acknowledged both in academia and in practice by invitations to participate in policy formulation activities for the European Union and the United Nations.
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