„Equality in Energy Transitions“ initiative
Women’s networks play a key role in promoting equal opportunities and empowering women in the energy sector. Since 2018, the Federal Ministry of Climate Action has been taking part in the “Equality in Energy Transitions” initiative1, a technology collaboration programme of the International Energy Agency and initiative of the Clean Energy Ministerial. The programme is devoted to strategies and measures for the targeted promotion of women in energy research and the energy industry. The aim is to connect women in energy-related professions with each other and to support the exchange of information and transfer of knowledge. It involves different measures that are intended to increase the visibility of women in technical and scientific professions – especially in leadership positions – in order to create role models for young women. Various networking formats are being developed and implemented, including e.g. the Female Ambassador programme2. Female Equality Ambassadors are managers from many different areas of the energy sector. The current period of the Equality Initiative in Austria sees the four female ambassadors Hemma Bieser (OurPower), Eva Dvorak (Coordination Centre for Energy Communities), Michaela Killian (Wien Energie) and Valerie Reif (Magnus Energy), who are all committed to encouraging more women to pursue a career in the energy sector and to supporting them on their career path.
Podcast:
nachhaltigwirtschaften.at/de/iea/publikationen/2023/iea-equality-podcast-equality-initiative.php
www.equality-energytransitions.org
1www.equality-energytransitions.org
2nachhaltigwirtschaften.at/de/iea/technologieprogramme/equality/botschafterinnen-programm-2023.php
Promoting people in research, technology development and innovation
The Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action supports people in research, technology and innovation in order to increase employment opportunities and support career development. Particular attention is paid to increasing the proportion of women, building up RTI knowledge and expertise and creating the structures required to promote research careers. The aim is to attract young people to research through real-life experience and to empower female researchers and technicians already in the profession. However, support is also offered to organisations in order to promote equal opportunities, diversity and participation, create an innovation-friendly culture and thereby work to address the shortage of skilled personnel in Austria. Different support programmes for more women in energy professions include internships for schoolgirls and female students as well as industry-related dissertations for doctoral training at the interface between science and industry. The FEMtech website includes profiles of more than 200 women who are experts in science and technology. A “Femtech Expert of the Month” is introduced to the general public.
www.ffg.at/en/talents
www.femtech.at/en
Background information, reports, interviews, etc. on the subject of “equal opportunities” can also be found in a Climate and Energy Fund dossier.
www.klimafonds.gv.at/dossier/chancengleichheit