Empowering Equality: IRENA’s 2025 Report Highlights Women’s Role In Driving The Global Renewable Energy Transition

The latest IRENA report, “Renewable Energy: A Gender Perspective – Second Edition (2025),” presents a comprehensive analysis of gender inclusion in the global renewable energy workforce. The executive summary and conclusion highlight how the clean energy transition is not just about reducing carbon emissions but also about building fair and inclusive societies. The report reveals that while the renewable energy sector offers tremendous job growth potential, women continue to face systemic challenges that limit their participation, leadership, and advancement.

As of 2023, around 16.2 million people are employed in the renewable energy sector, and this number is expected to reach 30 million by 2030 and nearly 40 million by 2050 under the Paris Agreement targets. Yet, women account for only 32% of the workforce, compared to 43.4% in the global economy. This is higher than in oil and gas (23%) or nuclear energy (25%), but still indicates a gender imbalance. Women’s representation varies depending on roles and organization types. Administrative positions have the highest female share at 45%, while STEM and leadership roles have only 28% and 19% respectively. In non-governmental organizations and government institutions, women’s participation averages around 37% to 48%, while private companies report only 25%. Smaller organizations tend to have more balanced workforces, whereas larger firms see declining female representation as size increases.

The report identifies three categories of barriers that restrict women’s progress: workplace, societal, and academic. Workplace barriers include gender bias in recruitment, lack of family-friendly policies, limited flexibility, and the persistent glass ceiling that restricts leadership opportunities. Nearly 45% of women surveyed reported gender-based discrimination at work, yet most cases go unreported. Societal barriers such as gender stereotypes, unpaid care responsibilities, and restrictive laws continue to limit women’s freedom to work or travel for employment. Academic barriers begin early, with fewer girls pursuing STEM education and technical training. This “leaky pipeline” effect results in fewer women qualifying for technical and leadership roles later in their careers.

Pay inequality remains another major challenge. Around 68% of respondents believe men are paid more for similar work, often due to biased promotion practices and a lack of standardized pay structures. In the energy access sector—especially off-grid programs led by NGOs and civil society—women make up around 35% of employees. Their involvement has been proven to enhance community adoption rates, system sustainability, and socio-economic development. However, women’s participation is still often limited to supporting roles rather than decision-making positions.

To make the energy transition inclusive, IRENA calls for gender-sensitive policies and a culture of accountability. Governments are urged to enforce equal pay laws, expand access to finance and education, and include gender equality goals in climate policies and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Employers are encouraged to create fair recruitment systems, flexible work options, leadership training, and zero-tolerance policies against harassment. Women participating in the survey rated their employers’ gender equity efforts at 69 out of 100, showing progress but also room for improvement.

The report further emphasizes the role of other stakeholders—civil society groups, intergovernmental organizations, trade unions, and educational institutions—in building inclusive ecosystems. Networks such as the Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition (GWNET), Women in Green Hydrogen, and regional platforms like REDMEREE are essential for mentorship and knowledge sharing. IRENA’s own HERHub initiative seeks to connect such networks globally.

In conclusion, IRENA stresses that the renewable energy transition presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to not only build a cleaner planet but also a fairer society. Achieving gender equality requires top-down actions such as policy reforms and gender budgeting, bottom-up initiatives like community empowerment, and cross-cutting approaches that integrate inclusion into every stage of energy planning and implementation. The report asserts that the success of the clean energy transition will not be measured merely in megawatts but in how it transforms lives and ensures equal participation for women and men alike.