Name: The missing piece of the clean energy transition
Uploaded: 2024-07-16T14:58:08Z
Duration: 10 min
Description: The clean energy transition has a major blind spot, says energy equity expert Sheila Ngozi Oparaocha: it ignores millions of people without access to energy. Highlighting grassroots women's organizations leading the charge towards universal access, she makes a powerful call to prioritize gender equality in energy policies — and to create a sustainable future where no one is left in the dark.

Sheila Ngozi Oparaocha: The missing piece of the clean energy transition

The missing piece of the clean energy transition

The clean energy transition has a major blind spot, says energy equity expert Sheila Ngozi Oparaocha: it ignores millions of people without access to energy. Highlighting grassroots women's organizations leading the charge towards universal access, she makes a powerful call to prioritize gender equality in energy policies — and to create a sustainable future where no one is left in the dark.

The global push for clean energy leaves behind 2.4 billion people without basic access to electricity or clean cooking fuels, with devastating impacts on women and children. Stories like Randa’s in rural Senegal, who spends 10 hours a week collecting firewood and gives birth in clinics lit by kerosene lamps, are far too common. Grassroots women’s organizations are already driving transformative change, yet they receive just a tiny fraction of climate and energy finance. Real progress depends on centering gender equality, investing in women’s solutions, and ensuring no one is left in the dark.