ADVANCING GENDER IN THE ENVIRONMENT: MAKING THE CASE FOR GENDER EQUALITY IN LARGE-SCALE RENEWABLE ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

AGENT Thematic Energy Brief Series | 2018

 

This brief provides an overview of the gender dimensions of planning and building large-scale renewable energy infrastructure, such as hydropower and geothermal plants, solar arrays and wind parks with the capacity to generate 10 MW or more. While the practices and lessons highlighted can be applied to energy infrastructure projects in general, this brief focuses on renewable energy infrastructure projects in line with current investment trends. It presents the impacts that large-scale renewable energy infrastructure development can have on communities, women and men and introduces entry points for advancing gender equality. The brief outlines potential gender entry points, such as impact assessment and compensation plans and closes with a list of recommendations with links to resources for stakeholders, including policymakers, practitioners and private sector decision makers. 

KEY MESSAGES

• Recognizing the gender dimensions of large-scale renewable energy infrastructure can increase social benefits, reduce conflicts with communities and make projects more inclusive, efficient and profitable. 

• Large-scale renewable energy infrastructure has the potential to be transformative, by providing both much needed energy access, as well as opportunities for women’s empowerment, employment and gender equality.

• To ensure equitable benefit sharing by impacted communities, large-scale infrastructure projects —whether renewable energy or otherwise— should develop compensation and resettlement plans in a way that recognizes and addresses gender inequalities and the social impacts caused by construction.