Abstract
Women and girls bear the brunt of energy poverty globally, and yet have a central and pivotal role in expanding energy access in a sustainable way. In areas where considerable energy poverty exists, women serve as the primary consumers and users of energy for cooking and household management. This past decade has seen significant technological advancements leading to increased access to electricity and clean cooking and heating systems. Efforts have been made to better integrate women throughout the energy sector and value chain, but critical gaps remain. Engagement of women within the energy sector requires addressing both the structural as well as psychological constraints that limit their participation. Data from programs that have effectively engaged women within the energy value chain show meaningful positive shifts toward reducing energy poverty, whether that is at the level of enterprises, within energy organizations or at the policy level. This potential is still largely untapped but is critical if we are to reach SDG 7 by 2030, the Sustainable Development Goal to ensure access to modern energy for all.
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Shankar, A. (2023). Gender, Energy, and the Advancement of Women in Leadership. In: Pachauri, S., Verma, R.K. (eds) Transforming Unequal Gender Relations in India and Beyond. Sustainable Development Goals Series. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-4086-8_8
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