MNRE Encourages Women to Lead India's Energy Transition Towards Net Zero at ‘Women in Renewable Energy’ Event

On the occasion of World Environment Day, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy organized a special event titled "Women in Renewable Energy: A Dialogue on Policy, Technology, Skilling, and Finance" in New Delhi. The event aimed to recognize the significant role of women in combating climate change and to discuss ways to enhance their participation in the renewable energy sector.

Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy, R K Singh, delivered a keynote address at the event, highlighting India's achievements in the renewable energy sector. Minister Singh reaffirmed India's commitment to the Paris Agreement and emphasized the need to limit the global temperature increase to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. He called upon women to actively participate in the renewable energy sector and contribute to India's energy transition towards achieving net-zero emissions.

Minister Singh stressed the importance of developing women-centric policies and implementation frameworks in the renewable energy sector. He acknowledged that women are effective agents of change at the grassroots level, engaging communities and driving household-level action. Minister Singh further emphasized the potential for women, particularly in rural areas, to benefit from Decentralised Renewable Energy (DRE) initiatives and gain reliable livelihood opportunities. He also highlighted the crucial role women can play in promoting green cooking practices, which can significantly contribute to achieving the goal of net-zero emissions.

B S Bhalla, Secretary of MNRE, also addressed the gathering, highlighting the increasing opportunities for women in the renewable energy sector. As part of the event, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy announced the recognition of women's contributions to the renewable energy sector in several categories. These categories include fostering a gender-diverse workplace, outstanding women entrepreneurs (excluding rural areas and including start-ups), rural women entrepreneurs, NGOs or Civil Society Organizations encouraging women to adopt renewable energy, and women leading the change for renewable energy in urban and rural areas.

The event was organized in collaboration with NRDC India (Natural Resources Defense Council India) and aimed to achieve several objectives. It sought to learn from women leaders' experiences regarding on-ground implementation and the use of renewable energy technologies.

It aimed to understand the pivotal role of women in the renewable energy value chain and the potential impact of their increased participation through supportive policies, innovative financial mechanisms, and capacity building on long-term energy security in the country. Additionally, the event sought to identify challenges and potential interventions related to finance, technology, and skilling that can facilitate the scale-up of women-led climate-friendly solutions.

The event witnessed the participation of over 180 stakeholders from across the renewable energy value chain, including representatives from union ministries, state departments, multilateral organizations, financiers, technology suppliers, think tanks, and beneficiaries. The diverse gathering facilitated a comprehensive discussion on empowering women and driving sustainable development through renewable energy.

World Environment Day served as a reminder of the importance of collective efforts and gender-inclusive strategies in addressing climate change. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy's event provided a platform to recognize and celebrate the significant contributions of women in the renewable energy sector while encouraging their further engagement to achieve India's sustainable energy goals.