Latin America and the Caribbean is a region highly vulnerable to the threat of climate change, its effects could trigger: alteration of climatic patterns, socio-environmental disasters, food insecurity, migration and/or forced displacement; Consequently, it is urgent that the countries of the region commit to concrete measures for the mitigation and adaptation of the global phenomenon. In this sense, the energy sector has the enormous opportunity to mitigate some of these effects; This is mainly: regulate greenhouse gas emissions, since it is the sector with the highest average impact in the region. For example, in the case of Chile, emissions represent 77% of the total.
All in all, an energy transition that allows countries to meet their climate commitments must consider social, political, economic, and environmental variables, in order to integrate all those affected by this change and build relationships of trust between the different sectors. of the society. To achieve the above, the gender perspective is essential.
Unfortunately, the energy sector harbors considerable gender gaps. To reverse this situation and include the gender perspective in the energy transition, Chile established the Energy and Gender Agenda in the Ministry of Energy in 2017. Within this framework, the “Energy + Women” initiative has been implemented, with important achievements. , especially in the incorporation of women in the energy industry, materialized in the Public-Private Plan initiative “Energía + Mujer”, which has established an enabling and articulating instrument to channel collective efforts in this perspective. Other countries in the region such as Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay have also made substantial progress on this issue. Likewise, the Office of Gender and Human Rights of the Ministry of Energy of Chile, incorporated two transversal themes, which are pillars for the development of a diverse and inclusive energy sector, energy education from early childhood and the development of human capital that meet the requirements and competencies demanded by the sector, with a focus on women, indigenous peoples and people linked to the just socio-ecological transition.
In this context, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Energy Partnership Chile Germany together with the Ministry of Energy of Chile, the Ministry of Economy and Climate Action of Germany (BMWK) have organized the Latin American Conference CEGEN (Capacities Change, Empowerment, Gender and Energy) LAC 2023 on this occasion it is expected to address the different gaps and barriers related to gender throughout a personal and working life, identify and analyze public policies for gender equality in the energy sector through regional level, as well as sharing replicable success stories in countries of the region.
The central objective of the event is to contribute to the development of actions to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women in the energy sectors to reduce gender gaps and guarantee inclusive and sustainable access.
Facing the inequalities that exist around gender is a job that requires efforts from all sectors due to the complexity of its causes, be they cultural, institutional or of another nature. Therefore, public policies must play a fundamental role in the construction of national strategies that manage to transcend governments and permeate society as a whole.
Finally, this event hopes to set up a space for discussion regarding the economic and academic participation of women in the energy sector. Highlighting the importance of early education to eradicate gender stereotypes when choosing careers linked to the energy sector, to then learn about the experiences of women making personal and work life compatible in the field of energy innovation, to end with solutions at the level structure of public policy that is being implemented in the region.
