youth

Gender and Youth

The energy transition is an opportunity to empower women and youth and build a more equal society. 

32%

Percentage of renewable energy workforce globally that are women

1.8 bn

Youth who face limited access to educational opportunities, finance, and decent jobs within the energy sector

486

Women supported through our mentorship and technical training programmes (as of April 2024)

196

Youth supported through our mentorship and technical training programmes (as of April 2024)

Currently, women and youth both have unequal opportunities to influence and benefit from decisions related to energy, climate and development. This is especially true for young women.  

The role of women and youth as agents of change and the need for more inclusive governance and decision-making at all levels would help to improve both climate mitigation and adaptation policies, and strengthen efforts to end energy poverty.  

Despite making up 39% of global labour force, women only account for 22% of the traditional energy sector. Meanwhile, according to the IEA’s Net Zero by 2050 scenario, 14 million green jobs will need to be created by 2030, with another 16 million workers shifting to new roles involving clean energy.  

Ensuring that women and youth have access to and are equipped for these opportunities will help reduce inequalities.  

Our Gender and Youth programme focuses on key areas for advancing the inclusion of women and youth in the energy transition.