Equal by 30 anniversary calls for more support to promote equality and diversity in clean energy
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, the Government of Canada remains committed to building a clean energy future to strengthen economy, create good jobs and support the natural resource sectors through this tough economic time.
The Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, today used the second anniversary of the Equal by 30 campaign to challenge like-minded countries and organizations to join Canada and over 140 signatories working towards equal pay, equal leadership and equal opportunities for women in the clean energy sector by 2030.
Equal by 30 is a campaign under the international Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) Initiative, a joint effort by the Clean Energy Ministerial and the International Energy Agency to advance gender equality in the energy sector. The campaign was co-launched by the Government of Canada and the Government of Sweden in May 2018, at the 9th annual Clean Energy Ministerial in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Equal by 30 asks companies and governments to endorse principles, take concrete actions to support women in the sector, and report on their progress in an effort to help close the gender gap and move the dial for women in energy. Research shows that energy companies with diversity in leadership show higher profits, greater innovation and lower risk. At the same time, women represent just 23 per cent of energy sector employees and 18 per cent of executive roles. This is significantly lower than almost any other sector.
Signatories to this global campaign include industry associations, companies, non-profit organizations, and governments worldwide, including Canada and 11 other federal governments: Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States.
The global energy sector has faced unprecedented and extensive impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. Initiatives that work towards a more diverse and innovative future, such as Equal by 30, will be more important than ever as the sector looks to recover and transition to a prosperous, inclusive and green future.
“Advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment is a priority for our government, and through the Equal by 30 campaign we are working globally with like minded countries and organizations to achieve gender equality in the energy sector. We cannot successfully transition to a low-carbon future globally with half the world’s population sitting on the sidelines. I challenge those not involved, to get involved.”
The Honourable Seamus O’Regan,
Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources
“We want the Equal by 30 campaign to rally more partners, more action, and more progress. The energy sector must respond to Canada’s leadership and Minister O’Regan’s challenge to get involved. We are working hard to achieve the goals of Equal by 30, but what we really want to achieve is gender equality right now”
Dan Dorner,
Head of the Clean Energy Ministerial Secretariat