Australia has signed an international pledge to equal pay, leadership and opportunity for women in the clean energy sector by 2030.
With the energy industry being one of the worst performing industries for female representation in Australia, the government’s new commitment offers the chance to create big impacts on climate action and gender equality.
The pledge is part of the Equal by 30 campaign, which asks international governments and organisations to actively increase the participation of women in the clean energy sector and close the gender gap.
The Canada-led campaign has 180 signatories worldwide, including the Australian, the United States, United Kingdom, Chile, the European Commission, Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Italy and Sweden– all of whom have committed to gender equity across the clean sector by 2030.
Australia’s assistant minister for climate change, Jenny McAllister says that within Australia, “women make up less than 39 per cent of the clean energy sector workforce, with the number even lower in leadership positions.”
“Signing up is an important step to addressing inequity and will encourage more women to become actively involved in and lead Australia’s energy transformation.”
As part of the pledge, the federal government will establish an Australian Women in Energy Roundtable for industry to promote and share work on equality.
A new government hub will also be formed to provide advice and guidelines for companies to use all available talent to develop a low-carbon economy.
Other actions by the Albanese government will include expanding engagement across domestic and international forums within the energy sector and sharing the Australia Public Service’s experience with flexible workplace arrangements and other efforts aimed at closing the gender pay gap and achieving gender balance.
Australia’s energy minister Chris Bowen said that overcoming the current barriers to women’s participation in the clean energy sector will occur from “empowering women and promoting gender equality through equal pay, leadership and opportunities.”
“There is an urgent need for gender-responsive policies in Australia and around the world to support women in roles across the clean energy sector,” said Bowen.
“Harnessing all available talent and advancing the participation of women in the clean energy transition is key to transforming the global energy sector and to achieving Australia’s 43% emissions reductions target by 2030 and net zero by 2050.”