Women are disproportionately harmed by the fossil fuel industry. This has to change

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Today is International Women’s Day and just like every year in recent times, fossil fuel companies will use this day to publicize their career options for women, call attention to the gender gap in science and engineering and sponsor cultural events that celebrate women and gender minorities.

As progressive as that sounds, it’s nothing but public relations smoke and mirrors.

Behind the glowing claims lies a sobering reality: Women and gender minorities are disproportionately harmed by the violence and corporate destruction of the fossil fuel industry.

We already know that the fossil fuel industry is responsible for the climate crisis and its catastrophic impacts and for polluting our air, water and land making people sick.

But their business models are reportedly driving inequality and promoting sexual and physical violence against women and gender minorities.

But what evidence is there?

There is an increase in violence against women and gender minorities

For starters, the fossil fuel industry’s resource extraction projects reportedly go hand in hand a wave of sexual and physical violence against women and gender minorities.

Temporary settlements for workers in oil and gas fields and other fossil fuel infrastructure, also known as “man camps”, presumably lead to an increase in cases of rape, sexual assault and harassment, human trafficking and other violent crimes against women and gender minorities.

Indigenous women and gender minorities are particularly at risk, and indigenous women are guide movements for justice and security.

One example among many can be drawn from the brutal aftermath of the Bakken “oil boom” in North Dakota, USA, which brought thousands of transient workers to the area, and has since been associated with a hike in interest rates of violent crime and aggravated assault.

At least 125 Indigenous women were reported missing during this period, but the true number is likely to be even higher.

The energy sector is riddled with economic gender inequalities

Furthermore, within the inherently patriarchal energy sector, extractive industries such as coal, oil and gas have traditionally had the lower percentage of female employees and even fewer women who reach managerial positions.

Wages for female energy workers are almost 20% less than for male employees in some European countries.

In 2021, the fossil fuel industry had the largest gender pay gap compared to other science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Australia.

And in Canada, for example, the mining industry is supposedly among the largest single drivers of income inequality, contributing to a staggering 6.7% of the national wage gap.

Economic gender inequality can be expected to grow in the wake of the current energy crisis, reversing years of progress, as women are disproportionately affected from rising energy costs due to their lower average income.

As many women and gender minorities — and people dependent on their income — struggle to make ends meet, the fossil fuel industry is make record profits.

Crises hit women and gender minorities harder than others

Women bring vital skills, resources and experience to humanitarian response.

And when crises strike, they are often first responders, taking risks and playing a vital role in the survival of families and communities.

But women and gender minorities do so hit harder from the fossil fuel climate crisis; on average, they have lower incomes and less access to information.

In times of disaster, women and gender minorities are more likely to be injured and less likely to survive.

Those who survive have limited access to disaster relief and assistance and face a increased risk of sexual and physical violenceespecially if they are displaced by climate change and live in overcrowded transitional accommodation, where they lack privacy and security.

In short, the fossil fuel industry is driving the climate crisis and thereby widening existing gender inequalities and discrimination.

A global energy shift could be the key to solving the problems

The fossil fuel industry is rooted in colonial, capitalist and patriarchal systems that are based on the oppression of people and the exploitation of finite natural resources, particularly in the Global South.

Even if the energy sector were more diverse and inclusive in their roster of fairly paid executives, unless their practices and structures fundamentally change, it would be the epitome of gender washing.

A global shift to renewable energy presents an opportunity to remedy this problem.

New fossil fuel infrastructure projects should be banned and fossil fuels should be phased out once and for all.

A fossil-free feminist future is the only way to achieve climate justice and prevent a climate catastrophe. Everyone’s life depends on it.

Lisa Göldner is Greenpeace’s lead activist for the Fossil Free Revolution campaign. She is a climate justice activist based in Berlin.

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