Abstract
Sustainability has endured as a global topic in terms of quality of life and energy-saving for an equalized system. Households represent one of the most energy-consuming sectors globally and are expected to increase tremendously in the future. Women have higher responsibility in the household energy use in most societies. However, their participation and impacts have been less prioritized in the sustainability concept regarding energy perspective. In contrast, most development studies reveal that women's participation in managing resources can positively impact women and policy management. However, women's active participation and influences on social, economic, and environmental contexts are mostly ignored in energy-related decisions, disregarding women's productive activities. Thus, this study evaluates the gender role in urban household energy in three contexts of economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainability pillars. This study is exploratory research based on questionnaire survey, interviews, observation, and air quality tests to apprehend appropriate data. The study revealed that the lower-income group uses a larger share of their monthly income for household energy with unclean cooking fuel. It has an impact on low-willingness to participate in new energy technology purchases. The use of electrical appliances and income has a moderate correlation (r = .48). However, Kathmandu urban households are eager to use electric cooking, but urban women have insufficient knowledge, information, and less affordability for new technology. The city's sustainability level is still low (47 scores) from a gender perspective, and it suggests the city needs a long way on the sustainability route. The study concluded that innovative technical interventions and women's financial power are essential, including the subsidy policy to reduce inequality between low and high energy household share variation and elevate gender participation. The gender mainstreaming approach in energy policy can increase women's participation in energy technology to get a clean environment and reduce the nation's financial burden of importing fuel.
Highlights
The importance of energy and gender integration in policy debates has been significant in sustainable development in the last two decades
Numerous studies [1, 2, 10] have proved that modern energy services have improved women’s socio-economic status with less time and effort involved in households’ chores and reducing the health risks associated with current energy practices
The results identified in percentage and counts were converted into a ten-point scale to obtain a sustainable level based on attitude towards energy-saving and gender participation
Summary
The importance of energy and gender integration in policy debates has been significant in sustainable development in the last two decades. Most studies acknowledge that women’s participation in the energy sector contributes significantly to achieving global energy efficiency goals for sustainable development [1,2,3]. Energy access must go beyond meeting basic needs to improve quality of life and economic take-off conditions It emphasizes innovation, sustainable consumption, and justice [2]. IEA has suggested a C3E program focusing on career development and participation since 2010 to harness all talents and close the gender gap for economic and social benefits [7]. It encourages more women’s participation in the clean energy sector. Women are mostly ignored in energy-related decisions and industries, disregarding women’s productive activities [8, 9]
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