Abstract
Energy frameworks are generally perceived to have little to no social content or implications; however, gender neutral energy frameworks may inadvertently discriminate against women. To understand the extent to which gender is being mainstreamed in energy frameworks at the national level, the authors have conducted three analyses on energy-related frameworks. This chapter captures the main findings of these analyses, aligning them with existing frameworks for assessing the gender responsiveness of energy policies, identifying if those elements are found in existing energy frameworks and providing examples of how gender considerations can be further addressed to support the development of a more gender-responsive energy transition.
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Notes
- 1.
According to Rosemberg (2010), the “[…] ‘Just Transition’ can be understood as the conceptual framework in which the labour movement captures the complexities of the transition towards a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy, highlighting public policy needs and aiming to maximize benefits and minimize hardships for workers and their communities in this transformation” (p. 141).
- 2.
The multi-dimensional character of energy requires policies to address the political aspects of use, production, provision and distribution of energy services, their prioritization and organization; economic aspects, including the allocation of financial resources for implementation; environmental aspects, including addressing local environmental impacts and how energy interventions could contribute to global and local environmental improvements; and finally, social aspects which require governments to reconcile conflicting and convergent societal interests, redressing inequalities and leading to societal and economic transformations which should also include those related to gender equality (Skutsch et al. 2006).
- 3.
National energy frameworks were retrieved from national energy and environment ministries, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) website or from the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) platform. This chapter does not attempt to be conclusive of all national energy sector frameworks, as not all energy frameworks are publicly available.
- 4.
This gender dictionary is used by the Environment and Gender Information (EGI) platform, which aims—through data and analysis—to convey the value of gender-responsive environmental conservation and sustainable development.
- 5.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) almost 80% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa still cooks with traditional fuels—solid biomass—with 20 out of the 25 countries worldwide where more than 90% of the population cooks with solid biomass are located in sub-Saharan Africa (IEA 2018).
- 6.
The Maldives is the only non-LAC country to also recognize universal energy access as a human right in its energyframework. The LAC countries that address energy access as a human right are Brazil, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Dominica and Uruguay.
- 7.
The SEforALL planning process is composed of three subsequent country action process documents: rapid assessment and gap analysis (RAGAs), action agendas (AAs) and investment prospectus (IPs).
- 8.
These were the Energy and Women’s Health High Impact Opportunity and the Modern Cooking Appliances and Fuels High Impact Opportunity.
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Rojas, A., Prebble, M. (2020). How Gender Equality Principles Are Integrated in National Energy Policies and Frameworks. In: Clancy, J., Özerol, G., Mohlakoana, N., Feenstra, M., Sol Cueva, L. (eds) Engendering the Energy Transition. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43513-4_7
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