Green employment and the issue of gender inequality
- These are a type of jobs that directly benefit the environment and advance the welfare of the environment as a whole.
- Their objectives are to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and lessen the detrimental effects of economic sectors on the environment.
- Jobs pertaining to resource conservation, renewable energy, and making sure energy-efficient methods are included in this category.
- “Decent jobs that contribute to preservation or restoration of the environment” is how the International Labour Organisation describes green jobs.
- They include a variety of fields where women have historically been underrepresented, including manufacturing, construction, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the automotive industry.
Equity between the sexes:
- Men are probably going to switch to green occupations globally more quickly than women.
- India’s capacity to produce renewable energy expanded by 250% between 2015 and 2021.
- Just 11% of workers in the solar rooftop industry are women.
- According to the Annual Survey of Industries 2019–20, the industries with the highest concentration of female workers are those that produce clothing, textiles, leather goods, food, and tobacco.
- According to the 2019 Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) study, 85% of workers in industries like manufacturing, transportation, infrastructure, and construction are men.
- According to a 2023 study conducted by the Skill Council for Green Jobs, men received 85% of the training for green skills.
- More than 90% of women said that social norms prevented them from pursuing green employment training.
- Factors include the perception that women are not appropriate for some technical positions, safety concerns, the fact that women are underrepresented in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), and familial restraints are examples of restrictive social norms.
How can the data gaps be filled?
- To increase women’s engagement, mapping new regions for green growth and gathering sex-disaggregated data on green jobs could be the first steps.
- Gather data on how low-carbon transitions are currently and will affect women workers and entrepreneurs, taking into account the unseen and hidden roles that women play in a variety of industries and regions.
- When performing a gender analysis,
- Gathering gender data on green jobs via recurring labour force surveys
- Gathering more information to highlight
- Promote the involvement of women in the green transition.
- The high-level discussion at COP 28 established the “Gender-Responsive Just Transitions and Climate Action Partnership,” a significant step towards justice and inclusivity in transition planning that focuses on better data, focused funding, and skill development.
- Ensuring women have access to developing possibilities resulting from low-carbon transitions is imperative.
- Reviewing the existing state of affairs and mapping out women’s roles today is crucial.
- remove the obstacles that prevent women from choosing certain careers
- establish a supportive environment to encourage their involvement in green jobs.
- In India: even though women make just 7% of all STEM graduates
- In engineering, manufacturing, and construction programs—the main industries involved in the green transition—they only make up 30.8% of the student body.
- To empower women in professions relevant to green jobs, early experiential learning, mentorship, financial aid, scholarships, and awareness-raising are essential.
- Encouraging female entrepreneurs: Financial policies and products that are tailored to the needs of female entrepreneurs with a gender focus can help them break into the green transition market.
- To fully realise their potential, financial literacy training, creating supportive networks, and collateral-free lending are essential.
- Appropriate instruments need to be created in order to evaluate creditworthiness, award loans, and lower operating expenses for women-owned companies.
The Way Ahead:
- One of the keys to releasing the co-benefits of a low-carbon and ecologically sustainable economy would be to empower women and advance gender equity in climate efforts as India embarks on a green transformation.
- Women’s integration in green occupations can be facilitated by increasing the number of women in leadership roles and incorporating gender-specific demands into low-carbon development initiatives.
- A multifaceted approach that prioritises employment, social protection, lessens the load of caregiving, and fosters skill development is necessary for a gender-just transition.
- To fully utilise the advantages of innovation, technology, and financing for female workers and entrepreneurs, partnerships between the public and commercial sectors as well as other stakeholders are required.
- Companies need to acknowledge the importance of gender justice and maintain equity while implementing green transitions.
- By removing obstacles brought about by gender bias or stereotyping and promoting fair employment opportunities, we may ensure a fair transition that is advantageous to everybody.
- Provide women with the tools and support they need to handle the rigours of the modern workplace while jointly creating a future that is inclusive of all and socially just.
