Women are pivotal to sustainable energy solutions

By Betty MainaAs the world braces to review the developments made since the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 on sustainable development, it is important to look at one of the main factors of sustainable development today – energy and its access. Energy is no doubt the driving force of livelihoods in any civilisation. As a matter of fact, access to quality energy sources often determines bloom or gloom in many societies.As populations surge and the need for more resources to sustain the swelling numbers is vital, it is critical to look at the energy capacity to support the heightened demand levels for food and other products.Access to energy sources has continued to be a challenge especially at the household level. It is complicated by the gender disparity issue especially in many African economies.It is for this reason that developing nations should pay greater attention to the challenges of energy access and particularly so with the gender factor in mind.As the world progresses towards sustainable development in various realms, the underlying strength of the importance of energy access especially by women especially in rural communities remains a challenge that could unlock great potential. Women the world over and especially in developing nations are known to be the primary users of energy at the family unit level.However in most of these cases the women do not have the rights to the sources of energy in economic and legal terms most of the time. Energy accessibility demands a direct link to economic and financial resources, which in most developing nations is skewed towards men. Men and women need to be empowered to access clean and sustainable energy sources. And, as the global economy gravitates towards green energy, national leaders will have to make concerted efforts towards ensuring their citizens have access to energy.Each state has the ultimate responsibility to ensure that its populace is connected to the most economically viable energy resources at the most competitive price and governments have to be held accountable in this regard. It is obvious that energy is a critical factor of production and, therefore, has a direct bearing on quality of life at the micro level. To this end governments have to ensure there is supportive legislation in relation to access to energy in all sectors.Policies on investments to increase access to improved energy services provide essential support for economic and social development – and women’s empowerment – as well as environmental benefits and climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience. Currently, biomass fuels (wood and agricultural waste) are the main sources of energy for over 2.5 billion people in poor countries. Modern fuels, mechanised power and electricity can provide new opportunities for economic and social development, especially for women, whose traditional roles in developing nations often include gathering biomass fuels from the local environment.Gender-responsive energy financing can contribute to basic human rights and economic efficiency, and create gains for private investors. Budgetary allocations in the energy sector have the power to transform gender inequalities and ensure more efficient and sustainable solutions.Health and educationThis transformation can be realised through targeting increases in energy access strategies that aim to create more time and physical energy that can be used to enhance quality of life and productive work, to improve health and education and to provide more income earning opportunities, participation and decision-making.The planning and governance of energy and climate change policies and programmes by government institutions, civil society and the private sector are important in promoting gender-responsive energy financing.In planning and implementing energy access, the ultimate objective is human development which translates to the ability to live the life of one chooses and be spared from absolute deprivation. It is, therefore, a basic human right and should apply to everyone, both women and men.In 2001, 189 UN Member States endorsed the Millennium Development Goals and committed themselves to eliminating poverty. Energy access for all is crucial for meeting these commitments.The evidence is overwhelming that, in planning and implementing energy access, greater gender equality is "smart economics" and contributes to economic efficiency.Developers of energy policies and programmes need to understand how women and men are important productive actors in economic development. Far-reaching commitments to gender equality and women’s rights have been encapsulated in core international human rights instruments and offer a roadmap for strengthening action, investment and accountability that will advance gender equality and women’s rights worldwide.Energy access, especially to the women, will alleviate malnutrition poverty and hunger among other societal ills. Therefore, it is important for policy and decision makers to push the energy access agenda forward. The writer is the CEO, Kenya Association of Manufacturers. This speech was delivered during the EU Sustainable Energy for All Summit in Brussels last week.

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