A Just Transition as an Opportunity to Rectify Inequalities
The world is facing a climate crisis, and the only way to address it is to transition to renewable energy sources. This transition, or “just transition”, should be viewed as an opportunity to rectify some of the wrongs where women are not prioritised in the energy mix, yet their experience of the impact of climate change is massive, says Thandile Chinyavanhu, a young South African-based climate and energy campaigner with Greenpeace Africa.
Recent UN scientific research on the state of the climate has made it clear that the world needs to make a rapid transition to renewable energy sources in order to reduce the devastating effects of global warming. This transition is often referred to as a “just transition”, with the aim of ensuring that the transition to renewable energy sources is equitable and that no one is left behind.
Unfortunately, women are often left out of the energy mix, and they are disproportionately affected by climate change. Women are more likely to suffer from the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events, floods, and droughts. They are also more likely to be exposed to air pollution, which can lead to respiratory diseases, and they are more likely to be affected by water scarcity.
In addition, women are often excluded from decision-making processes related to renewable energy projects. This means that they are not given the opportunity to influence the development of renewable energy projects, which can lead to projects that are not designed with women in mind.
The just transition should be viewed as an opportunity to rectify some of these wrongs and ensure that women are included in the energy mix. This can be done by ensuring that renewable energy projects are designed with women in mind, and that women are included in decision-making processes related to renewable energy projects.
In addition, renewable energy projects should be designed to benefit women, such as by providing employment opportunities for women. This will ensure that women are not only included in the energy mix, but also benefit from the transition to renewable energy sources.
Finally, renewable energy projects should be designed to benefit the most vulnerable communities, such as those living in rural areas. This will ensure that all communities benefit from the transition to renewable energy sources, and that no one is left behind.
The just transition should be viewed as an opportunity to create a more equitable and just energy system, one that prioritises women and the most vulnerable communities. This will ensure that everyone has access to clean and affordable energy, and that everyone can benefit from the transition to renewable energy sources.
In conclusion, the just transition should be viewed as an opportunity to rectify some of the wrongs where women are not prioritised in the energy mix, yet their experience of the impact of climate change is massive. By ensuring that women are included in the energy mix, and that renewable energy projects are designed to benefit the most vulnerable communities, we can create a more equitable and just energy system.
