Empowering Women in Green Energy, Shaping the Climate-Neutral Future

On March 7, 2025, to celebrate the International Women’s Day and women’s contribution in the energy transition, GIZ and the Hydrogen Energy Professional Committee of the China Energy Conservation Association (CECA) jointly hosted the “Women Empowerment in the Dual Carbon Industry” workshop. The event provided a platform for experts from government, think tanks, industry and financial institutes to discuss the opportunities and challenges women face in the energy sector, exchange best practices to empower female practitioner to foster women's potential to accelerate the energy transition and promote the green transition. 

The event took place within the framework of the Sino-German Energy Partnership under the support of China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK). It also celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark commitment to advancing gender equality worldwide.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Li Xiaoling from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) highlighted energy efficiency as a crucial enabler of China’s carbon neutrality ambitions. She underscored China’s progress in reducing energy intensity and emissions while advocating for greater female participation in the energy sector. Ms. Bianca Fluck from the German Embassy in Beijing reinforced the German government’s commitment to gender equality, emphasizing the need for increased female representation in leadership and technical roles within the energy industry.

In his keynote speech, Mr. Dai Yande, former Director of NDRC’s Energy Research Institute, examined the future landscape of the energy industry under China’s carbon peaking and carbon neutrality strategy. He identified emerging opportunities in energy storage, CCUS, green hydrogen, and biomass energy and pointed out that women can play a pivotal role in addressing these future complex challenges with diverse problem-solving approaches and fostering inclusive innovation cultures.

Ms. Katarzyna Rezza Vega from GIZ, Global Communications & Women’s Empowerment Expert of the Bilateral Energy Partnerships, illustrated the overview of women’s participation in the energy transition. By sharing initiatives designed to empower women’s participation in the energy transition, she underscored the value of diversity in driving innovation.

Women's empowerment relies on diverse support systems. In the industries towards energy transition and climate neutrality, women possess immense potential for growth while also facing numerous challenges. How can government policies, financial instruments, and industry initiatives be integrated to establish a multifaceted support system that empowers women? Drawing from global best practices, how can different stakeholders collaborate effectively to create an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable environment that enables women to play a more pivotal role in the green transition?

To answer these questions, the followed panel discussion focused on integrating gender perspectives into climate policies, capacity-building programs for women, green financing mechanisms, and career development pathways for female professionals in the energy sector. Panelists from UN Women, Green Finance Center of Huaxia Bank, State Grid Energy Research Institute, Green Innovation and Development Research Institute as well as legal center of Hydrogen Energy Committee CECA, shared insights on fostering inclusive workplace cultures and advancing women’s leadership in sustainable industries.

In the closing remarks, Mr. Martin Hofmann from GIZ and Mr. Xin Sheng from CECA reaffirmed the commitment of both organizations under the Sino-German Energy Partnership to strengthen women’s empowerment in the energy transition. Moving forward, GIZ and CECA will continue their collaboration under the “Women in Green Energy Initiative” to promote gender diversity in the energy sector.