Around the world, women make up only 32% of the renewable energy workforce, in India this figure is just 11%.  To speak to this topic, CLASP hosted an event in New Delhi, to shine a light on the strategic benefit of increasing equity and inclusion in India’s energy sector. The first-of-its-kind event, titled “Equity Surge: Powering Inclusion in India’s Energy Sector”, brought together respected leaders and experts to delve into the various facets of gender inclusion and its impact on India’s energy transition.

The first discussion, moderated by Neha Dhingra, Senior Manager at CLASP, shed light on the evolving landscape of India’s energy sector and the pivotal role women play within it. Speakers, including Ruchika Drall from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ramila Vyas from People Education & Development Organization, Mandira Kalra Kalaan from Purpose, and Leher Sethi from the Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs, Delhi, provided valuable insights into women’s participation, their role as community leaders and decision-makers, and the need for gender-responsive policies.

The first discussion, moderated by Neha Dhingra, Senior Manager at CLASP, shed light on the evolving landscape of India’s energy sector and the pivotal role women play within it. Speakers, including Ruchika Drall from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ramila Vyas from People Education & Development Organization, Mandira Kalra Kalaan from Purpose, and Leher Sethi from the Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs, Delhi, provided valuable insights into women’s participation, their role as community leaders and decision-makers, and the need for gender-responsive policies.

The speakers noted that women are not just underrepresented in the energy sector but also disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change. The need for mainstreaming gender and fostering a gender-neutral framework was emphasized to break stereotypes and achieve gender balance in the workforce.

The solutions include enabling women’s access to finance and community engagement, as well as fostering leadership among women in the energy sector. The importance of monetizing unpaid household care work by women and communicating gender-responsive policies effectively were also underscored as critical steps toward achieving equity and inclusion.

According to India’s Council on Energy, Environment, and Water, if women’s participation in the energy sector is increased to 30%, it could create up to 3.2 million additional jobs by 2025. This CLASP event served as a crucial platform for fostering dialogue, learning and collaboration to encourage a more inclusive and equitable energy sector in India. CLASP continues to steer efforts and collective action globally with the vision of a just and inclusive energy transition for all.