On 13 November, the Equality in Energy Transitions Initiative, the Gender and Energy Compact and the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centers successfully organized a high-level engagement at COP30 Belém with the session “Solutions Dialogue: Turning Gender Commitments into Climate Impact.” This event moved beyond defining the problem, gathering governments, youth representatives, civil society, and the private sector to detail concrete pathways for accelerating gender-transformative climate and energy action.
The session was moderated by Sheila Oparaocha, Director of ENERGIA, and commenced with a welcome by Rana Ghoneim, Director, Division of Energy and Climate Action, UNIDO, who underscored the imperative of translating policy into measurable results.
A Powerful Call for Recognition from Brazil
The dialogue was anchored by a significant intervention from H.E. Janja Lula da Silva, Brazil’s First Lady and COP30 Special Envoy for Women. Her powerful address validated women’s expertise across all levels of the climate response, providing a crucial directive for global policy:
“Women must not be seen merely as beneficiaries; they are farmers, activists, engineers, and so much more.”
This statement affirmed the necessity of recognizing and integrating women’s expertise into both national policy frameworks and grassroots action for a truly just transition.
Accountability and Systemic Change
The panel discussion focused on the mechanisms required to ensure commitments deliver tangible change, featuring insights from various institutional levels:
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German Focus on Evidence: Annika Schäfers, Multilateral Cooperation Officer at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, stressed that accountability requires action backed by evidence. She outlined how multilateral collaborations through established platforms such as the Equality Initiative increase visibility, build strong networks, showcase commitments, and collect data to measure the impact of gender-responsive policies.
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Governmental Integration: Representatives from Costa Rica (H.E. Ronny Rodriguez, Vice Minister of Energy) and Guatemala (Andrea Fión Góngora, Director of Climate Change) provided context on the strategic integration of gender perspectives into national energy security and climate change plans.
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Civil Society and LDC Demands: Winifred Masiko (Gender Coordinator, LDC Group) and Tara Daniel (WEDO) urged that climate finance be decentralized, stressing the need for resources to work more closely with local and regional counterparts to deliver real impact and build community resilience.
Key Takeaways for Global Action
The successful dialogue solidified four crucial pathways for driving the energy and climate transition:
- Recognizing Leadership: Women’s leadership and contributions must be formally recognized at all levels and across all sectors.
- Policy Imperative: Gender equality is essential for effective climate and energy policies, including those outlined in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
- Finance Localization: Climate finance must be structured to deliver resources locally to achieve transformative community-level impact.
- Amplifying Marginalized Voices: Youth, represented by Gaby Lika Inga (YOUNGO), and Indigenous voices must be amplified to ensure the transition is equitable and inclusive.
The consensus from the session was clear: the global energy transition is not merely a technical challenge, but a social transformation that requires the full and equitable participation of women as leaders and innovators.
Photo credits: Tania Kumar
