Leading international law experts have called for increased integration of women in the development and implementation of clean energy transition policies and programs to achieve a just and inclusive transition agenda that leaves no one behind.
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This recommendation was made at an online workshop organized by the Committee on Women, International Law, and Development of the International Law Association Nigeria (ILA Nigeria). Themed, ‘Energy for All: Bridging Gender Gaps in the Green Transition,’ the event also marked the official launch of the Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy special issue on ‘Gender Justice and Energy Transition in the Global South.’ The special issue, edited by the Committee Chair, Dr. Pedi Obani, and Committee member, Dr. Adenike Akinsemolu offers new theoretical and empirical insights on the intersections of gender and energy justice.
Moderated by Committee Vice Chair Barrister Titilope Akosa, the event featured leading international experts including the President of ILA Nigeria, Professor Damilola Olawuyi, SAN; the immediate past Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change Secretariat, Dr. Nkiruka Maduekwe; and the Head of the Renewable Energy Unit at First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Ms. Chinma George. The webinar also featured presentations by Dr. Opeyemi Gbadegesin, Dr. Eduardo Pereira, and Dr. Hilary Okoeguale, who authored papers for the special issue.
Committee Chair, Dr. Pedi Obani, who is also an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Bradford in welcoming participants emphasised that, “In Nigeria, as in much of the Global South, women are not only disproportionately affected by energy poverty and environmental degradation – they are also powerful agents of change driving sustainable solutions. Yet, structural and institutional barriers continue to limit their participation access to resources and decision-making power.”
In his keynote address, Professor Damilola Olawuyi, SAN, who is also an Independent Expert on the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, lamented the pervasive lack of women in leadership roles in the energy sector, which is at risk of being replicated in clean energy transition programs. Calling for the equitable distribution of the benefits and burdens of development policies, the Learned Silk stated that, ‘There is a clear and urgent need to mainstream a gender perspective in clean energy transition programs and policies.’ He identified five dimensions of justice for a gender-aware energy transition: cosmopolitan justice, procedural justice, reparative justice, social justice, and distributive justice. According to him, realizing these justice imperatives requires providing tailored opportunities for women to access the necessary financing, technologies, training and education needed for them to play active and leading roles in developing and commercializing green innovation and eco-entrepreneurial ventures. Professor Olawuyi stressed that achieving these goals demands innovative, gender-aware and equitable laws and policies.
In the second keynote, Dr. Nkiruka Maduekwe discussed the uneven impacts of the climate crisis on women and the underuse of women’s knowledge, leadership, and expertise in the energy sector. She pointed out that, ‘Despite the fact that women bear the brunt of energy poverty, we account for over 70% of off-grid energy users. We lack access to affordable energy.’ Dr. Maduekwe also noted the scarcity of women’s stories in climate-related reporting, despite their producing most wood fuel and being the primary managers of energy in households. She proposed solutions such as increasing girls’ and women’s exposure to STEM education, introducing a gender lens to legal and policy frameworks, and promoting gender-informed storytelling. She also called for public participation in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to develop its third Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement.
Guest speaker Ms. Chinma George highlighted gender gaps in the current transition framework, focusing on women’s experiences with energy poverty and their limited opportunities for employment and leadership in energy. She underlined FCMB’s role in addressing these issues by empowering women through access to finance – like zero-interest loans – promoting green products, improving financial literacy, and fostering public-private partnerships.
The presentations by authors of papers in the special issue reinforced discussions about the gender gaps in current transition programs across the Global South, including in Nigeria and Brazil, and proposed solutions through training policymakers on gender analysis, providing seed grants for women’s climate research, disaggregated data collection, and equitable constitutional design processes. Dr. Pedi Obani also highlighted the Committee’s ongoing projects geared at driving gender inclusion in critical sectors, such as energy, water, sanitation, and hygiene, and other areas. She called for collaboration towards building policies and systems that advance women’s rights and holistically cater to of all segments of society.
ILA Nigeria is a branch of the International Law Association, which was founded in Brussels in 1873. The Nigerian Branch of the ILA regularly hosts innovative lectures, seminars, conferences, and other capacity development programs to advance the study and understanding of international law in Nigeria. Its committees, such as the Committee on Women, International Law and Development, serve as its focal points for contributing to research, capacity development, and dialogue around key thematic areas of international law. To learn more about ILA Nigeria, its activities, and events, visit http://www.ilanigeria.org.ng
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