Gender, Equity, and Energy Justice

As energy shifts toward cleaner and more sustainable pathways, there is a critical need to explore how gender, equity, and justice interact. This is essential to ensure that the energy transition does not reinforce existing inequalities but instead creates opportunities for empowerment and inclusion. Energy systems can be deeply influenced by social, political, and cultural contexts that often sustain existing disparities. These dynamics are frequently shaped by gender norms, structural barriers, and institutional practices that limit opportunities for marginalized groups to fully benefit from and participate in energy systems. Therefore, this chapter combines conceptual, empirical, and policy perspectives to highlight both the persistent inequalities in energy systems and the chances for transformation. It reviews some global and African evidence on gender disparities in the energy sector and examines how international frameworks, national energy policies, and justice-based approaches can provide pathways toward inclusive and fair energy governance. Ultimately, the goal is not only to document the challenges but also to showcase best practices and emerging innovations demonstrating how women’s participation, leadership, and agency can be harnessed to build sustainable, just, and socially inclusive energy systems.