IWD 2024: The Role of Women in the Clean Energy Transition

On Sunday, March 3, 2024, UN Resident Coordinator, Joanna Kazana, delivered remarks at an International Women's Day event entitled, "Counter Her In: Invest in Women, Accelerating Progress - 'A Different Energy.'"

The event was hosted by WE Thrive and Words Matter Communications and held at the Hilton Trinidad. 

Women from the energy sector were the target audience for this meeting. The discussions aimed to underscore the indispensable contributions of women to the success of the energy sector.

In her remarks, RC Kazana focused on Trinidad and Tobago's growing push to expand its renewable energy production and the role that women should and are playing in this just energy transition. Below are her full remarks:

Madam Minister, 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

I am delighted to be standing in front of you on behalf of the United Nations and to be part of a conversation of women who have stamped their mark on the industry they work for.

I thank the organisers, -- ‘We Thrive’ and Words Matter Communications, for the invitation and opportunity to start this year’s celebrations of the International Women’s Day at this event.

When I look around this room, I see many faces in the top tier of Trinidad and Tobago’s energy sector companies; trailblazing women who have ascended to influential leadership positions. 

As your theme makes clear, women bring “A Different Energy” to every boardroom, every project management space, every innovation or meeting. 

In spite of this, I am sure many of you in this room have also lived the experience of being the minority. 

The 2018 International Energy Agency report states that globally energy sector has 76% fewer women than men in its workforce. It is a significant difference from the average gap and it makes energy one of the most male-dominated sectors in the world. 

The good news that in the sector of “different” that is clean energy, the share of women is already 32%.

According to the Centre for American Progress, Increasing Women’s participation in the clean energy economy will further progress on climate action and improve women’s economic security.

So the question today is how can the energy sector – both traditional and new energy companies foster a more inclusive work environment for women? How can companies and communities as a whole really “Count Her In?” at all levels?

We contemplate this question in the context of International Women’s Day, which underscores the importance of achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 -Gender Equality. 

At the UN we believe that letting women lead and direct the path towards sustainable development goals is key for accelerating progress.

And accelerate we must – according to SDG 7, by 2030, there should be universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services – particularly renewable energy sources. In the next 6 years, the world is to double the global energy efficiency rate. 

Trinidad and Tobago has demonstrated its commitment to expanding the mix of renewables. 

Over the years, Government has rolled out numerous tax incentives for vehicle owners who use CNG, hybrid power and electric power. Your service station retailers, NP and Unipet, are providing EV charging stations and incorporating solar power into the service station’s operations. Government has ordered 300 electric buses to help reduce transport sector emissions.

There are groundbreaking ventures in solar energy and there is strategic interest and commitment to position T&T as a leader in hydrogen energy. 

During COP 26 in 2021, the Prime Minister committed to enhancing the country’s renewable energy to 30 percent of energy mix by 2030. 

Colleagues, the energy transition is already underway in Trinidad and Tobago. And the UN System is helping to build momentum.

UNDP with funding from the European Union, worked with the Ministry of Energy to develop a national renewable energy policy. 

UNDP also helped devise a licensing structure and a feed-in tariff policy.  Working with the Ministry of Planning, we outfitted 12 sites – including panyards, schools and nature conservation centres - with solar power. 

This groundwork supports Trinidad and Tobago’s effort to achieve its target, under the Paris Agreement, to reduce emissions by 15%. 

Beyond the policy-making level, consumers are also keen to play their part in the green transition.

In 2023, a UNDP GCCA+ survey found that 8 out of 10 people in Trinidad and Tobago are interested in installing solar panels in their home. (I suppose it would be 10 out of 10 if all respondents were women ;-)

As you know, the Paris Agreement is a commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and the last COP28 climate talks made an important step toward this net zero reality: it was the first time countries agreed, explicitly, to phase out fossil fuels. 

The COP 28 declaration signals a shot in the arm for the clean energy transition.  But if we do not “Count Her In” at all levels and stages of the shift to clean energy, we are missing an opportunity to accelerate and deliver a just transition. 

Women are a transformational force that must be activated to ensure the success of the clean energy evolution:

- as designers of engineering and financial solutions, 

- as implementers of projects 

- as educated and sustainability conscious end-users of renewable energy policies, technologies and energy efficient practices.

As the UNIDO and UN Women ‘Guide to Gender Equality in the Sustainable Energy Transition’ tells us, we need the innovation and operational efficiencies that women’s participation and leadership can bring.  

The transition also requires investment in women’s expertise and ideas. 

We need to make space for women-led small and medium enterprises within the energy sector. 

Of vital importance are inclusive financing mechanisms to support women-led renewables projects that stimulate economic growth and help develop the clean energy industry.

Women need to be part of climate change governance at the policymaking level. 

Here I would like to acknowledge toe work of the Minister of Planning and Development, The Honourable Pennelope Beckles. I think all of us will thank her for championing and spearheading invaluable progress in the legislative, policy and administrative sphere to facilitate the energy transition. She is leading the charge domestically and on the global arena, joining hands with other formidable women leaders from the Caribbean and beyond. 

We need to tap into the expertise and the drive of women like Minister Beckles. 

While ensuring gender equality in the workplace, we must look at our schools, universities and training institutions where girls need access and opportunities in Science and technology. 

We must invest in young women and equip them with the right skills for these careers, also by propelling girls towards careers in the IT sector 

Last year, here in this hotel, the UN TT hosted a youth Battle Bots competition for 120 students from across TT.  Indeed, girls were part of the second and third place teams. 

Ladies,

As Trinidad and Tobago turns towards a “Different Energy,” it will be your energy that will propel change – the change that’s needed to slow the trajectory of the climate crisis.

The UN in Trinidad and Tobago remains ready to work with you, and for you, to advocate for inclusion. 

We bring our expertise and the global arena for TT to shine as the country expands its clean energy and harnesses the potential of women consumers to make energy-conscious decisions that protect our planet.

I congratulate each of you for your professional success and for paving the way for women and girls in this industry and in the society.  

On behalf of the United Nations, I wish you all a Happy International Women’s Day.

Thank you.