EQUAL BY 30: TAKE THE PLEDGE
Equal pay, equal leadership and equal opportunities for women by 2030 – these were the objectives Canada and Sweden challenged the energy sector to live up to at the Clean Energy Ministerial in Copenhagen this past May.
Equal by 30 is a campaign under the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) – a global forum that promotes policies and programs that accelerate the transition to a global clean energy economy. CEM campaigns are designed to support initiatives by raising awareness through public outreach and collaboration towards specific targets.
The Equal by 30 campaign falls under the banner of the Clean Energy Education & Empowerment (C3E) Initiative, a cross-cutting body of work that has existed since the CEM was first launched in 2010. It operates in recognition of the fact that that the transition to a clean energy future will only succeed only if we harness all possible talent.
Right now, the resource sector is one of the least diverse in Canada and worldwide; internationally, women represent only 35% of the clean energy workforce. And according to the Women in Power and Utilities Index, women make up only 16% of boards amongst the world's largest utilities.
Gender equality isn't just the right thing to do; it's the smart thing to do. According to the G20, reducing the gender employment gap by 25% by 2025 could add a full percent to baseline GDP growth for OECD countries - and 100 million new jobs for women.
Gender equality in the energy sector is progressing too slowly. We want to change that through Equal by 30.
Ibrahim Baylan
Minister for Policy Coordination and Energy
And McKinsey Global Institute estimates that by taking steps to advance greater equality for women—such as employing more women in technology and boosting women's participation in the workforce—the world could add $12 trillion to its economy by 2026.
That's why Sweden and Canada launched the Equal by 30 campaign on May 24, 2018, alongside Italy and Finland, who also pledged their commitment.
Industry participants from around the world were also present to take early leadership by endorsing the campaign, including Annika Viklund of Sweden's Vattenfall, Maria Sicilia of Spain's Enegas, and Denis Leclerc of Écotech Québec, Canada.
Equal by 30 is an excellent way for companies to showcase the work they are already doing on gender equality on a global stage. The campaign is a clear call to action for governments, companies and organizations around the world to make gender equality a priority. It's time we turn good intentions into meaningful action.
As Canada's Parliamentary Secretary Kim Rudd said when she helped to launch Equal by 30, "The task is urgent. The opportunities are real. And the time is now."
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