Fostering Gender-Just Energy Transitions in Mineral- and Fossil Fuel- Producing Countries
As the world turns toward a sustainable energy future, humanity stands at a crossroads: will the energy transition bridge existing divides—such as income inequality, gender disparities, and economic imbalances between nations—or will it deepen the disparities that already separate us?
Addressing gender equality is a crucial piece of the puzzle. Ensuring that women, men, and people with diverse identities can shape and benefit from this shift is essential to achieving a truly just and inclusive transition.
In 2020, the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) and partner organizations proposed a Feminist Natural Resource Governance Agenda for a Just Transition. In 2021, in partnership with the World Resources Institute (WRI), we produced an initial primer about the importance of gender-transformative policy reforms.
The current primer builds on the first, diving deeper into why gender matters to natural resource governance in the context of the energy transition. It highlights the often-overlooked ways in which gender dynamics could influence—and be influenced by—how the transition is managed. From gender mainstreaming to equity and equality, we explore the concepts that can turn the energy transition from a risk to gender equality into an opportunity for all.
Energy policies have long been blind to gender, often neglecting the distinct needs, challenges, and contributions of different groups. But a different narrative is needed—one in which gender is not an afterthought, but a driving force for fair and effective energy governance. By embedding gender perspectives into every policy at every stage, the global community can transform the energy transition into a powerful engine for social justice and economic empowerment.
Gender equality in the context of the extractive sectors and natural resource-rich countries refers to the equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of women, men, and youth within these industries and regions, irrespective of their gender. Promoting gender equality in extractive contexts should ensure that all individuals can equally benefit from and contribute to the development and management of natural resources. However, in this document, we focus our analysis on the role that women—particularly within vulnerable communities—can play in ensuring a just transition.
This primer offers an overview of the challenges that stakeholders must overcome to make this vision a reality. It also proposes general recommendations for a gender-just transition. Whether you are a policymaker, a practitioner, a member of an affected community, or simply someone committed to a better future, we invite you to join us in ensuring that the energy transition does not leave anyone behind.
