Green jobs and the problem of gender disparity 

The shift towards low-carbon development in India could potentially create approximately 35 million green jobs by 2047. These green jobs, as defined by the International Labour Organization, are characterized as "decent jobs" that play a role in conserving or rejuvenating the environment. These employment opportunities extend across various sectors, including manufacturing, construction, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and automobile industries. Historically, these sectors have had lower participation from women.

1. Green Jobs

Green jobs are decent jobs that directly contribute to environmental preservation or restoration. These jobs are typically found in sectors focused on renewable energy, energy efficiency, environmental conservation, waste management, sustainable agriculture, and green technology. Green jobs play a vital role in fostering sustainable development and combating climate change. These jobs contribute to preserving or restoring the environment while promoting economic growth and social inclusion. 

Significance of Green Jobs

• Environmental Impact: Green jobs help reduce carbon emissions, mitigate pollution, conserve natural resources, and protect biodiversity, thus contributing to environmental sustainability.
• Economic Growth: The green economy creates new employment opportunities, drives innovation, and stimulates investment in clean technologies and sustainable practices, leading to economic growth.
• Social Inclusion: Green jobs promote social equity by offering opportunities for marginalized communities, women, and youth. They provide avenues for skill development, training, and career advancement, fostering inclusive economic development.
• Climate Action: Green jobs are instrumental in achieving climate targets and transitioning to a low-carbon economy. They support the implementation of renewable energy projects, energy-efficient initiatives, and sustainable infrastructure development.

Examples of Green Jobs

• Renewable Energy Technicians: Professionals involved in the installation, maintenance, and operation of renewable energy systems such as solar panels, wind turbines, and hydroelectric plants.
• Environmental Engineers: Experts responsible for designing, implementing, and monitoring projects aimed at reducing environmental impact, improving air and water quality, and managing waste.
• Sustainability Specialists: Individuals tasked with developing and implementing sustainability initiatives within organizations, including waste reduction programs, energy efficiency measures, and green procurement practices.
• Conservation Scientists: Professionals engaged in researching and implementing strategies for the preservation and sustainable management of natural resources, ecosystems, and biodiversity.

2. Gender Disparities in Green Job Transition

Globally, there exists a gender gap in transitioning to green jobs, with men being more likely to make this shift compared to women. Despite India's significant increase in renewable energy capacity from 2015 to 2021, women accounted for only 11% of workers in the solar rooftop sector. The Annual Survey of Industries for 2019-20 highlighted the concentration of women workers in industries like apparel, textile, leather, food, and tobacco, while men dominated sectors such as infrastructure, transport, construction, and manufacturing, as per a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) report in 2019.

Challenges Faced by Women in Green Job Training

A 2023 study by the Skill Council for Green Jobs revealed that 85% of green job training was provided to men, with over 90% of women citing social norms as barriers to their participation in such training. These norms include beliefs regarding women's suitability for technical roles, safety concerns, limited representation in STEM subjects, and familial constraints.

Importance of Gender Equity in Green Transition

3. Identifying Data Gaps

The existing data on women's participation in green jobs in India is limited, hindering a comprehensive understanding of this landscape. To address this, it is essential to map emerging areas for green growth and collect sex-disaggregated data on green jobs. Initiatives such as conducting gender analysis and incorporating gender statistics into periodic labour force surveys can serve as crucial starting points.

Understanding Present and Future Impact

There is a need to build evidence on the current and future impact of low-carbon transitions on women workers and entrepreneurs. This entails recognizing the hidden and invisible roles played by women across different sectors and geographies. Mobilizing additional resources to emphasize and encourage women's role in the green transition is imperative.

Global Perspective on Gender Disparities

Globally, women are lagging in efforts to achieve climate targets and sustainability goals, particularly evident in the transition to a low-carbon economy. While new opportunities are emerging, job displacement and transformation present challenges. COP 28's high-level dialogue recently launched the 'Gender-Responsive Just Transitions and Climate Action Partnership' to address this issue, emphasizing improved data, targeted finance, and skill development.

Ensuring Access to Emerging Opportunities

To ensure women can access emerging opportunities from low-carbon transitions, it is crucial to review the current landscape of women's work and participation in green jobs. Structural barriers hindering women's employment choices must be addressed, alongside the creation of a conducive ecosystem to foster their participation.

Empowering Women in STEM

Despite comprising 42.7% of STEM graduates in India, women are underrepresented in key sectors for green transition like engineering, manufacturing, and construction, where they represent only 30.8%. Bridging this gap requires early hands-on learning, mentorship, scholarships, financial assistance, and awareness generation to empower women in green job-related fields.

4. Supporting Women Entrepreneurs in the Green Transition

Financial Policies and Products

Gender-focused financial policies and products tailored to women entrepreneurs' needs can catalyze their entry into the green transition market. Initiatives such as collateral-free lending, financial literacy training, and the establishment of supportive networks are essential to unlock their potential. Moreover, the development of suitable tools to assess creditworthiness, disburse loans, and reduce operational costs for women-owned businesses is crucial.

Leadership Opportunities

Increasing the representation of women in leadership positions is imperative to incorporate gender-specific needs into low-carbon development strategies, thereby promoting their integration into green jobs.

A Multi-faceted Approach to Gender-Just Transition

A gender-just transition requires a multi-pronged strategy addressing employment, social protection, the reduction of care work burden, and enabling skill development. Partnerships involving government, the private sector, and other stakeholders are essential to leverage the benefits of innovation, technology, and finance for women entrepreneurs and workers.

Promoting Gender Equity in the Green Transition

Businesses play a pivotal role in promoting gender justice throughout the green transition process. This involves mitigating barriers stemming from stereotyping or gender bias and fostering equitable job opportunities. Ensuring a just transition that benefits everyone necessitates building the capacity and support for women to meet the demands of the evolving job landscape and co-designing a future pathway that is socially equitable and inclusive for all.

5. Conclusion

Achieving a gender-just transition to a low-carbon economy requires concerted efforts to ensure women's full participation and empowerment in green jobs. By addressing gender disparities and promoting inclusive policies and practices, India can unlock the full potential of its green economy while advancing gender equity and social inclusion.