The W4RES perspective is that women as agents of change can make a difference in the energy transition. To be truly transformative, energy access and the energy sector must be linked with an agenda that challenges the stereotypes of women. And that also advances their rights, dignity and visibility in their various roles as consumers, producers, investors, experts, and agents of change. -- Ioannis Konstas, women for market uptake of renewable heating and cooling (W4RES) coordinator
The W4RES initiative represents a significant step forward in integrating gender equality into the renewable energy sector, specifically focusing on renewable heating and cooling (RHC). Financed by the EU Horizon 2020 programme, this collaborative project covers Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway and Slovakia. It aims to increase women’s involvement in RHC, positioning them as important drivers of change within the sector.
This initiative responds to the need for a gender-inclusive approach in addressing the EU’s climate and energy goals, amid the backdrop of the European Green Deal. W4RES aims to cause a paradigm shift, recognising women not just as consumers but as vital contributors across the energy value chain.
Activities focused on promoting gender mainstreaming include:
- comprehensive market analyses identifying barriers and women-led solutions to RHC uptake;
- gender audits and co-evaluation services for women-led RHC projects, alongside a gender action plan initiation event;
- awareness campaigns to incorporate gender perspectives into RHC projects and policies;
- capacity-building programmes for RHC market actors on integrating gender considerations;
- facilitation of good practice co-creation and exchange regarding sustainable RHC adoption;
- development of replication guides, toolkits and policy recommendations for a gender-responsive RHC sector.
Key achievements of W4RES include providing gender equality training to over 450 individuals within the RHC sector, enhancing gender dimension visibility at energy conferences and improving sex-disaggregated data and research on gender barriers in the RHC market.