Gender Glasses (Finland)

In 2009 the Equality Unity at Finland’s Social Affairs and Health Ministry launched the “Gender Glasses project” (“Sukupuolisilmälasit”)  to raise awareness about gender mainstreaming across all Ministries and build their capacity to effectively implement gender considerations in their respective policy making scope of work.

The project was launched despite Finland’s international high ranking on gender equality performance, to address gaps in the understanding and integration of gender considerations in the policy space. Previous research conducted by the Ministry had identified the limited understanding of the objectives and methods related to gender mainstreaming among Ministry representatives as a barrier preventing the application of gender mainstreaming theories into policies and policy-making. Acknowledging this constraint while upholding gender mainstreaming as a priority for the Finnish Government, a dedicated training project was launched to provide the national administration staff with a basic understanding of gender mainstreaming principles, how to mainstream gender and evaluate the gender impact of policymaking.

The project was addressed to all Ministries and was designed and developed in three phases (the first two with funding from the European Commission), with increasing ambitions of gender integration and further tailoring to the specificities of each Ministry.

The first phase’s training provided general awareness raising to all ministries, and a first set of seminars were held with the ministry leadership. Dedicated educational and awareness-raising materials were developed, including a website. In the following phase, thematic training sessions were held for the equality working groups of each Ministry. One seminar was also delivered to Ministry staff in charge of budgeting.

Further to consultations and need assessments with each Ministry, in phase three dedicated support was provided to three Ministries: the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Ministry of Interior.

The four-year project has been instrumental to improve the general awareness among staff and directors of the principles, terms and methods related to gender mainstreaming as well as about the links between gender equality actors across Ministries. It also contributed to increasing the availability of tools and materials to support training efforts in this field. The gender equality working groups were boosted by this initiative and further sharpened their work. While gender mainstreaming gained in visibility, new tools were created to support the work of gender equality coordinators and working groups in the ministries. Gender monitoring, in particular, was strengthened by new and improved legislation, while the mandatory relevance of gender mainstreaming was reiterated at all ministerial levels.

Thanks to the project, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health produced a practical “Handbook Handbook to support the gender equality work of ministries” which is constantly updated and still in use. The Handbook provides guidance on how to embed gender perspectives in decision-making processes, and provides practical instructions for assessing gender effects, implementing projects, preparing legislation, and planning the operations and finances of ministries.

Women Energize Women (Germany)

Women Energise Women is a communication measure of Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK), to inform, mobilise, inspire and connect women around the world who work for the energy transition.

Women Energise Women holds conferences and monthly events (discussion panels, interviews, networking events) with inspiring women related to the energy transition, promotes female role models in the international energy context, disseminates information on the challenges and solutions related to women in the energy sector. WEW cooperates with established and emerging women’s networks, organisations and institutions, fostering networking of allies.

The initiative is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE) as part of the bilateral energy partnerships.

Energy Check (France)

The Energy Check (Le Chèque Énergie) is an initiative of the French government to support low-income households cover their energy costs, irrespective of the source of energy they use.

The Energy Check builds on the earlier experience of the social tariffs for gas and electricity which were in place between 2004 and 2017. It was rolled out via a gradual approach that started in some regions of the country. Upon a careful and positive assessment of its implementation, it was extended to the whole country in 2018, with more than five million households benefitting of it in 2023.

The Energy Check is disbursed yearly on the basis of the income level of the entire household and its composition and is sent automatically by post to the beneficiaries’ homes each year in the spring. On average it amounts to EUR 150 but it can go up to EUR 277.

The benefitting households can use the check either to pay their energy bills or to cover part of their costs for renovating their home, making it more energy saving work.

Furthermore, the energy check entitles beneficiaries to protection on electricity and natural gas contracts, for instance by exempting them from commissioning costs in the event of a move and from reduction in power during winter. Together with the energy check, benefitting households receive certificates that assert these rights with electricity and natural gas suppliers.

Inge Lehmann Research Programme (Denmark)

With only about 23% of professors in Denmark’s universities being women, in 2020 the Ministry for Higher Education and Science initiated a dedicated research programme to address gender imbalances in academia and promote more women in scientific research. The Inge Lehmann Programme was launched, with an initial disbursement of DKK 19.7 million (ca EUR 2.6 million ). Its latest Call for Proposals allocated DKK 80.6 million (ca EUR 10.8 million) by June 2024.

The programme is handled by Denmark’s Independent Research Fund (DFF) and, while being open to both male and female scientific researchers, it prioritises women over men in case of equal qualifications. DFF has decided to focus the Inge Lehmann programme on the early stages of the research career, as studies and data show that this is where the imbalance in the gender ratio in research environments sets in.

Gender considerations lie at the core of the Program and the DFF Call for Proposals guidelines clearly spell out that “DFF encourages applications that, to the extent possible, demonstrate an approach to scientific practice that can act as a driving force for professional diversity and equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of gender, in research.”

The programme is named after the Danish seismologist and geophysicist Inge Lehmann (1888 – 1993) who determined in 1936 that Earth must have a solid inner core and a molten outer core, based on calculations she made while analysing seismic wave measurements.

The Equality Platform for the Energy Sector

The European Union is committed to strengthening equality and inclusion in all fields of EU activity, including in the energy sector. To this end, at the EU Sustainable Energy Week in 2021 the European Commission launched the Equality Platform for the Energy Sector in order to offer a space for discussing gender-related issues, facilitating exchanges of experiences and highlighting best practices.

The Platform was launched following a call to energy stakeholders from all EU countries, to inform the European Commission of any actions they were already taking to promote equality and inclusion in their environment.

The Platform serves as a forum for companies, organizations and institutions to share successful strategies for fostering diversity and inclusion within their workplaces. This allows others to learn from these examples and implement similar initiatives. By sharing concrete actions that contribute to achieving equality in the energy sector and promoting workplaces that are more diverse and inclusive, the Platform contributes to strengthen the EU commitment to equality and inclusion, acknowledging that they are also drivers of economic growth and social well-being. The Platform promotes diversity based on race, age, sexual orientation, disability, and other factors.

Membership is structured on two levels:

1. Signatories sign the platform’s declarationand commit to submit within a year examples of specific actions to promote equality in their workplace;
2. Full members sign the platform’s declaration and submit at the application stage examples of specific actions to promote equality in their workplace.

All members are expected to report during the Platform meetings about the implementation progress of their concrete actions. Examples of actions include the installation of specific facilities for women or persons with disabilities and the development of diversity strategies and action plans.

The Platform advocates for fair and unbiased hiring practices across the energy sector, eliminating gender bias in job descriptions, interview processes, and promotion opportunities. It emphasizes the importance of fostering inclusive work cultures within energy companies, for instance via unconscious bias training for managers, flexible work arrangements, and support networks for women in the workplace. Training programs and mentorship initiatives specifically designed to support women in the energy sector are particularly encouraged as they equip women with the technical skills and leadership training needed to advance in their careers.

The Energy Poverty Advisory Hub

The Energy Poverty Advisory Hub (EPAH) is the European Union’s main initiative to eradicate energy poverty. It is the successor of the EU Energy Poverty Observatory (EPOV) project, which ran between 2016 and 2020. The EPOV project has been instrumental in gathering data, producing and sharing knowledge, and developing recommendations to address energy poverty across the EU. In particular, the EPOV has been relevant for setting up national energy poverty indicators to assess energy poverty at the Member States level, which are still in use.

The EPAH was launched by the European Commission in 2021, following a request made by the European Parliament. Aiming at eradicating energy poverty and accelerating the just energy transition of European local governments, the EPAH is meant as a space for collaboration and exchange between local and regional authorities. The EPAH continues the core functions of the EPOV, providing data and resources, with a new focus on local action.

The EPAH acts on three levels:

• Engaging local authorities and civil society organisations (city, municipal and regional governments, NGOs and other relevant organisations) across Europe on energy poverty mitigation and understanding of the social aspects related to it. To this end, the EPAH is collecting, analysing and disseminating inspirational local cases and research results.
• Creating a collaborative network of stakeholders interested in taking actions against energy poverty in Europe and engaging them in a continuous dialogue and exchange through the EPAH platform, through national and international events and workshops and through digital training opportunities.
• Motivating stakeholders to act against energy poverty at the local level by establishing a support system for local authorities and civil society organisations.

The EPAH offers online guidance and knowledge products for diagnosing, measuring and planning actions to tackle energy poverty at the local level from national and EU perspectives. Such resources include:

• publications
• an interactive databasethat allows stakeholders to discover local and international projects and measures addressing energy poverty
• coursesto increase knowledge on energy poverty and mitigation actions
• calls for technical assistanceto directly assist local governments to take actions on energy poverty.

Together with the Covenant of Mayors, the EPAH also developed a reporting mechanism that cities can use to track the progress in eradicating energy poverty. As the EPAH primarily focuses on the local level, a set of local energy poverty indicators has been developed in collaboration with the Covenant of Mayors community of cities for tracking energy poverty at the local level. These indicators are updated on a regular basis, whenever new data are available.

The EPAH website offers a wealth of information on energy poverty, including:

• National and local energy poverty indicators
• Best practices and case studies for tackling energy poverty
• Tools and resources for local authorities
• Information on EU funding opportunities for energy poverty initiatives

Through its resources and focus on local action, the EPAH contributes to address social inclusion in energy via several manners several:

• Identifying vulnerable groups: The data and analysis provided by the EPAH help identify populations most susceptible to energy poverty, including low-income households, single-parent families, elderly people, and those living in poorly insulated homes. By pinpointing these vulnerable groups, local authorities can tailor their energy poverty eradication efforts to optimise social inclusion.
• Promoting inclusive local solutions: As it emphasizes the importance of local action in addressing energy poverty, the EPAH offers resources and best practices that encourage local authorities to design solutions that consider and respond to social inclusion needs. This could involve:
  • Targeted outreach: Developing programs and information campaigns specifically for vulnerable communities.
  • Financial assistance: Providing financial aid or subsidies for energy efficiency upgrades or clean energy solutions in low-income areas.
  • Community engagement: Involving vulnerable communities in the design and implementation of energy poverty solutions to ensure they address their specific needs.
• Sharing case studies of inclusive initiatives: The EPAH website showcases successful examples from around Europe where local authorities have implemented programs that address energy poverty while promoting social inclusion. This allows other regions to learn from these successful models and adapt them to their own contexts.
• Advocating for inclusive funding mechanisms: The EPAH informs local authorities about available EU funding opportunities that support energy poverty initiatives, including those targeting specific vulnerable demographics.

By providing these resources and promoting a local, socially inclusive approach, the EPAH helps ensure that the benefits of tackling energy poverty reach everyone in a community.

The Social Climate Fund

Established in 2023, the Social Climate Fund (SCF) provides funding to EU Member States to support vulnerable households, including those affected by energy poverty, and vulnerable micro-enterprises, by supporting investments for increased energy efficiency.

The SCF is part of the “Fit for 55 in 2030 package”, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels in line with the European Climate Law. The SCF will start in 2026, one year before the Emissions Trading System (ETS) is extended to cover buildings and road transport (the so-called “ETS II”). If energy prices are exceptionally high, the ETS extension may be postponed by one year.

The SCF is meant to benefit vulnerable households, micro-enterprises and transport users that are particularly affected by energy and transport poverty. Only measures and investments that respect the principle of ‘do no significant harm’ and aim to reduce fossil fuel dependency will receive support.

The SCF will cover two types of initiatives:

1. Temporary direct income support measures to tackle the increase in road transport and heating fuel prices, with a limit of up to 37.5% of the total estimated cost of each national plan.
2. Long-lasting structural investments, including energy efficiency and buildings renovation, clean heating and cooling, decarbonisation solutions and integration of renewable energy, purchasing and infrastructure for zero- and low-emission vehicles, as well as the use of public transport and shared mobility services.

In order to access the funds, EU countries are expected to submit national “Social Climate Plans”, after consulting with local and regional authorities, economic and social partners as well as civil society. By June 2025, Member States will submit their national Social Climate Plans to the European Commission which will assess them and issue payments upon achievement of the milestones and targets set in the plans.

The European Commission has launched a 2024 Flagship Technical Support Project to support Member States’ local, regional and national authorities  with the preparation of their national Social Climate Plans.

The Commission Energy Poverty and Vulnerable Consumers Coordination Group

In order to provide EU countries with a space to exchange best practices and increase coordination of policy measures to support vulnerable and energy-poor households, in April 2022 the European Commission established a Commission Energy Poverty and Vulnerable Consumers Coordination Group.

The Coordination Group is the main platform for the European Commission and Member States to share information and best practice on the subject of energy poverty, coordinate EU legislation and help to design programmes and policy initiatives in the fields of:

• energy affordability;
• targeted renovation and energy efficiency measures;
• financing schemes at the national level.

Access to energy services is considered an essential part of social inclusion. The European Pillar of Social Rights from 2017 includes energy among the essential services which everyone is entitled to access.

To tackle the issue of energy poverty and support those affected by it, including vulnerable consumers and financially weak households, the Coordination Group:

• shares information on measures to support and empower people in this situation;
• addresses energy affordability at the national, regional and local level, including in the context of the clean energy transition;
• discusses specific issues to identify actions and coordinate solutions in line with EU law;
• addresses and monitors progress on root causes and solutions, including through socioeconomic analysis, and reviewing reports from the Energy Poverty Advisory Hub and the Commission;
• aims to improve the quality and range of data and statistics so that action is based on an informed and up-to-date understanding of the key issues, in cooperation with the Social Protection Committee and Eurostat;
• encourages information sharing, coordinated action and prevention measures in the event of an emergency within the EU.

The Just Transition Mechanism

The Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) is part of the European Green Deal policy framework and provides resources to alleviate the socio-economic impacts of the transition towards the European Union’s 2030 climate target and the 2050 climate neutrality objective.

The JTM is intended to ensure that no one and no region is left behind in the transition to a climate-neutral economy. It mobilises around EUR 55 billion between 2021 and 2027 to address the social and economic implications of the transition, particularly for the most affected regions and social groups.

Its main beneficiaries are expected to be:

• Member States and regions which are highly dependent on fossil fuels and have carbon-intensive industries
• Citizens, who will be supported for instance in accessing employment opportunities in new sectors and re-skilling opportunities, improving energy-efficient housing, accessing clean, affordable and secure energy and investing against energy poverty
• Carbon-intensive companies and industries. During the transition, they will be supported towards low-carbon technologies, economic diversification and with climate-resilient investments and jobs, attractive conditions for investors, preferential access to loans and financial support, investment in research and innovation.

The Mechanism consists of three components:

• A Just Transition Fund
• A Public Sector Loan Facility
• An InvestEU Just Transition Scheme

The Just Transition Platform acts as a helpdesk, supporting EU countries and regions with technical, advisory and regulatory assistance about the just transition. It also promotes exchanges and interactions among stakeholders.

How does the JTM promote gender equality and social inclusion?

Gender equality and social inclusion are integral to the Just Transition Mechanism, which has stronger requirements in terms of gender equality inclusion: when applying for JTM funding, applicants need to demonstrate how their plans address gender issues. Countries applying for JTM funding need to explain how their projects will impact gender equality, how it will affect women’s opportunities and address any potential drawbacks.

Equally, the JTM pursues a gender mainstreaming approach, by encouraging the inclusion of gender equality throughout the transition process and project design, and not as a separate, ad hoc issue.

In its focus on reskilling and upskilling, the JTM supports training programs for workers affected by the green transition. These programs should be designed to be appealing to and accessible for all genders and equip also women with skills for emerging green jobs, which tend to be traditionally male-dominated.

Likewise, when proposing territorial plans for specific regions, Member States are encouraged to consider demographic challenges, including gender imbalances, in the workforce and the specific needs of women along the transition in those regions.

The EU Recommendation on Energy Poverty

The concept of energy poverty was first introduced in EU law by the Directive on common rules for the internal electricity market (2009/72/EC). Since then, it has expanded in conjunction with the just and fair energy transition and has become a pillar of the EU’s efforts in the energy field, particularly via the promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energy.

The October 2023 European Commission Recommendation on Energy Poverty is a first, positive step towards the promotion of gender equality and social inclusion in the energy poverty eradication context.

It does so, first of all, by acknowledging that certain groups are more susceptible to energy poverty, especially families with children, people with disabilities, older persons, and women, particularly single mothers and older women.

Next, the Recommendation focuses on improving the energy performance of buildings, which can yield significant impacts on reducing energy bills, particularly for low-income households, including women-led households facing energy poverty.

Further steps shall include the collection of gender-disaggregated data in the energy context and the identification and promotion of gender-responsive measures to energy poverty.

The Recommendation is noteworthy in that it outlines how, at the national level, energy poverty can be diagnosed. As per the EU legislation, energy poverty is then to be tackled at the Member State level via the respective National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP).