Youth Workshop: Rethinking Energy Transition: Gender and Equality

September 23, 2022 – September 23, 2022
12:45 am – 01:45 pm
Global Clean Energy Action Forum

On September 21-23, in Pittsburgh, the U.S. will host the first-ever Global Clean Energy Action Forum, a joint convening of the 13th Clean Energy Ministerial and the 7th Mission Innovation ministerial. Governments, international organizations, the private sector, academia, innovators, civil society, and early career researchers and policymakers will gather in a three-day event that features a high-level plenary, topical roundtables with energy and science ministers from 31 countries, CEOs and experts, side events, technology demonstrations, and other activities.

As part of our commitment to advance gender equality and universal access to energy, and stimulate discussion on pressing thematic intervention areas, including energy poverty, entrepreneurship, women’s and youth representation, the Equality Initiative is co-hosting two side events. These events will be an opportunity to showcase the latest developments in the energy sector and to encourage multilateral cooperation.

It is important that women and youth are included in the energy transition at all levels: they should be granted access to and control over clean energy resources, access to technical education and training, employment possibilities and entrepreneurship within the energy sector, as well as in the decision-making process. Whilst many efforts are being made on the ground to grant access to clean energy supplies, it is often in the higher-ranks, notably in the (political) decision-making process, that women and youth are underrepresented and therefore have unequal opportunities to steer and shape the energy transition. This issue prevails also at high-level political events such as international climate and energy conferences.

This workshop is an opportunity for young people to reflect on the inclusivity of the Gender-Energy initiatives and thereby provide valuable feedback and ideas to international and intergovernmental multi-stakeholder initiatives, campaigns, and organizations with a strong mandate to make the energy transition as inclusive as possible. This workshop will, in particular, focus on creating suggestions and recommendations to make the Equality Initiative, Equal by 30 campaign, and the Gender and Energy Compact more youth inclusive. Participants will discuss how these initiatives can support and contribute to enhancing youth’s engagement, involvement, and leadership in a just energy transition.