The Paris Agreement, which calls for limiting the rise of global average temperature to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing ambitious efforts to limit below 1.5°C, also takes into account the imperatives of a just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs in accordance with nationally defined development priorities^[1]. The Agreement also acknowledges the obligation of its parties to the most vulnerable sectors, and promotes gender equality and empowerment of women. This also reflects its adherence to the Sustainable Development Goals.

According to the United Nations, 80% of the people displaced by climate change are women^[2]. Low income communities and those living in areas prone to extreme weather and slow onset events, like typhoons and sea water level rise, respectively, are most vulnerable to the changing climate, especially women. The lack of opportunities and family income that could have been used to support their studies leave many women uneducated, and, therefore, end up becoming more dependent on their communities and families, and vulnerable to hunger, abuse and exploitation.

The story is not different in the Philippines. Other than the systematic social and economic injustice women already face every day, like societal bias towards men and sexual harassment, women are also more burdened by the effects of climate change. During the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, 300,000 pregnant women and new mothers needed extra assistance^[3]. Mothers taking care of their children were also immobilized in evacuation centers.

In the energy sector, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), despite making up 48% of the global workforce, only 22% of the traditional sector are women. Energy is the highest carbon emitting industry and our work towards decarbonization should include women. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) also stated that women are the primary users of energy in the households since they are the ones at home most of the time^[4].

Empowering women and giving them space to participate in the just energy transition will help lessen their vulnerability. Early action on a just transition can minimize the negative impacts and maximize positive opportunities towards low carbon development^[5].

WISE and Just Transition:

A Dialogue Series on Women, Inclusive and Sustainable Energy, and Just Transition

The Center for Empowerment, Innovation and Training on Renewable Energy (The CentRE) is a hub for technology, social innovation, policy studies, advocacy and community empowerment towards a clean energy future. It envisions an inclusive and sustainable society where people and communities live in dignity, control their energy future, and enjoy access to reliable, affordable and clean energy attained through a transition that is just and democratic.

In collaboration with its members and partners, The CentRE has set to conduct a dialogue series dubbed as Women in Inclusive and Sustainable Energy (WISE) and Just Transition.

The aims of WISE and Just Transition Dialogue Series are:

1. Gather data that will feed into an initial documentation that highlights the following:

   1. Economic, health and social impacts of energy, or lack thereof, in vulnerable or marginalized communities, particularly on women in these areas (i.e. urban poor, rural, off-grid, indigenous peoples communities)

   2. Challenges faced by women in the energy sector and their responses/actions to address these;

2. Compile stories of women for a book project that presents a narrative on how women and their interests/rights are involved and integrated in the just transition process in the Philippines.

3. Explore opportunities and link stakeholders for coordination on powering communities while empowering women in a just transition towards a decarbonized future.

4. Build a network or pool of women who will advocate for a gender-responsive, inclusive, and sustainable energy and just transition.

^[1] https://unfccc.int/files/meetings/paris_nov_2015/application/pdf/paris_agreement_english_.pdf

^[2] https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/03/women-climate-crisis-vulnerability-empowerment/

^[3] https://www.rappler.com/voices/imho/women-climate-change-inequality

^[4] https://www.irena.org/newsroom/articles/2019/Jan/Gender-equality-for-an-inclusive-energy-transition

^[5] https://www.iisd.org/topics/just-transition

WISE and Just Transition:

A Dialogue Series on Women, Inclusive and Sustainable Energy, and Just Transition

The Center for Empowerment, Innovation and Training on Renewable Energy (The CentRE) is a hub for technology, social innovation, policy studies, advocacy and community empowerment towards a clean energy future. It envisions an inclusive and sustainable society where people and communities live in dignity, control their energy future, and enjoy access to reliable, affordable and clean energy attained through a transition that is just and democratic.

In collaboration with its members and partners, The CentRE and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Philippines started in 2021 a dialogue series entitled "Women in Inclusive and Sustainable Energy (WISE) and Just Transition."

The aims of WISE and Just Transition Dialogue Series are:

1. Gather data that will feed into an initial documentation that highlights the following:

   • Economic, health and social impacts of energy, or lack thereof, in vulnerable or marginalized communities, particularly on women in these areas (i.e. urban poor, rural, off-grid, indigenous peoples communities)

   • Challenges faced by women in the energy sector and their responses/actions to address these;

2. Compile stories of women for a book project that presents a narrative on how women and their interests/rights are involved and integrated in the just transition process in the Philippines.

3. Explore opportunities and link stakeholders for coordination on powering communities while empowering women in a just transition towards a decarbonized future.

4. Build a network or pool of women who will advocate for a gender-responsive, inclusive, and sustainable energy and just transition.