Abstract
The impact of restricted access to sustainable energy is the worst in vulnerable urban poor areas, and so an alternative approach to energy innovations is needed. To explore the possibilities for energy innovations, gender needs to be taken into account. This is especially relevant in the sub-Saharan African context, as most households are female-headed. This paper aims to explore the current state of gendered energy innovations by using a multivocal approach; it thus focuses on the existing body of knowledge at the gender—energy interface. The study is conducted in two parts: first, ‘state of the art’ is conceptualised using a multilevel approach; second, a structured literature review on gendered energy innovations is conducted in light of the structured understanding of ‘state of the art’. There is definitely room for new innovations to use gender as a strategy for solving energy security problems in urban poor environments.
Highlights
Recent studies have found a high correlation between the sustained and inclusive social and economic development of a country and the energy consumption of its inhabitants [1]–[3]
The need to address this issue is well-recognised by the global humanitarian community: the inclusion of gender equality in the United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG(s)) as well as the UN’s
The approach of this study is twofold: 1. First, this paper investigates how best to conceptualise the state of the art of phenomena in the field of energy transitions in a structured way, considering how various levels and phases can be included in a study — i.e., how to define what a structured definition of the state of the art entails; and
Summary
Recent studies have found a high correlation between the sustained and inclusive social and economic development of a country and the energy consumption of its inhabitants [1]–[3]. Various scholars are beginning to assert that climate, energy, equality, and gender are forming inextricable integrations [6]–[10] These integrated complexities of the fields of energy access, energy justice, and energy security need to be explored in-depth, as the gendered nature of energy transitions is often implicit and unexplored [9]; but studies have proven significant correlations between energy security and gender equality [1], [4], [11]–[13]. Without careful attention being paid to them, sustainable transitions that do not consider social aspects such as gender may paradoxically contribute to environmental decay and worsen existing gender inequalities [1].
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