Gender Diversity in Green Careers: Current Landscape and Challenges
Green jobs, which focus on sustainability and resource conservation, are being created across sectors to meet global environmental goals such as the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
As industries and countries prioritize environmental goals in their pursuit of Net Zero, the spotlight has shifted to green jobs as catalysts to help this transition. In India, the government envisions generating 35 million green jobs by 2047, highlighting the sector’s transformative potential for both economic growth and ecological impact. However, gender disparities remain a significant barrier, particularly in technical and leadership roles, which limits progress toward achieving a fully inclusive green economy. Women continue to be underrepresented, and this imbalance hinders efforts to integrate a diverse workforce into the green sector.
Green jobs, which focus on sustainability and resource conservation, are being created across sectors to meet global environmental goals such as the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Roles in renewable energy manufacturing, wind turbine installation, and energy efficiency solutions are driving this transformation. Additionally, green construction—spanning resource-efficient architecture, urban planning, and innovative materials—further underpins sustainable growth. Similarly, waste management has evolved into a comprehensive field encompassing recycling, composting, and the broader circular economy. Despite these advancements, women continue to face significant barriers to accessing these roles.
The International Renewable Energy Agency report found that women now account for 32% of the global renewable energy workforce, and there are national opportunities for further growth, particularly in leadership positions. Despite India’s progress in renewable energy, women remain underrepresented in green sectors. For instance, despite a 250% increase in renewable energy capacity from 2015 to 2021, women make up only 11% of the workforce in the solar rooftop sector. The disparity is further underscored by data showing that while 42.7% of STEM graduates in India are women, only 30.8% of professionals in critical green industries, such as engineering and manufacturing, are women.
The relevance of diversity in gender among green careers cannot be emphasized enough. Diversity drives innovation, productivity, and adaptability. According to a study by McKinsey, gender-diversified teams outperform similar companies on average by 21%. This would result in better project outputs, improved stakeholder engagement, and innovative solutions from a green-sector perspective. Despite its significance, achieving gender diversity in green career fields remains a challenge, driven primarily by cultural barriers. In India, a significant number of women are discouraged from pursuing STEM education, with societal norms and the lack of female role models contributing to this gap. According to the Annual Status of Education Report, 3% of rural girls have completed a STEM degree, highlighting the educational disparity. Though there is an increase in skills programs, they often fail to address the unique needs of women, such as access to resources, mobility, and mentorship.
Workplace challenges also play a critical role. Rigid work structures, inflexible policies, and a lack of childcare support lead to high attrition rates among women in green careers. While there is growth in the renewable energy sector, women remain underrepresented, particularly due to these workplace barriers. Addressing these issues requires systemic changes in education, workplace policies, and leadership to foster an inclusive green economy.
To close this gender gap, human resource-centric initiatives are essential. These initiatives should include targeted hiring practices that direct women into green sectors. Transparency in hiring and outreach programs in educational institutions could create entry points for women into these industries. Additionally, leadership development programs specifically designed for women can help address the underrepresentation of women in decision-making roles. Offering flexible work arrangements such as telecommuting, part-time roles, and childcare support would help retain women in the workforce, especially in fields like renewable energy and construction, which often require fieldwork and non-standard hours. Emphasizing work-life balance is crucial for ensuring women’s long-term participation in the sector.
The collaboration between corporate organizations and NGOs can create valuable opportunities for skilling and promoting inclusion, particularly for women in green careers. Programs like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao have already shown positive results, helping more than 300,000 students across India gain exposure to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) skills. NGOs focused on grassroots development have played a pivotal role in empowering women through initiatives in waste management and sustainable farming, encouraging their active participation in environmental efforts, and fostering economic independence. Furthermore, corporate leaders who have integrated diversity into their HR strategies are setting benchmarks for greater representation of women within their green workforces. These efforts are helping create a more inclusive green economy, where women can access opportunities for career growth in sectors like renewable energy and sustainability.
Many collective global and national case studies show the progress that countries are making in integrating women into green careers. For instance, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has been a long-time advocate for women professionals through scholarship, ongoing skill development programs, and awards for excellence in leadership.
The flagship LEED Fellows program has created several women leaders who have made significant impacts by implementing sustainability projects internationally. One prominent LEED Fellow recognized in India for her noteworthy contribution to green buildings and sustainability is Deepa Sathiaram. She is a co-founder of En3 Sustainability Solutions, a consultancy involved in green building projects on an extensive scale with over 600 projects across geographies, including India, the Middle East, and Africa. Her work includes many industry firsts, including one of India’s 1st Net-Zero Energy Buildings, the 1st carbon-neutral organization, and India’s 1st carbon-neutral construction project.
Another example is Samhita Madanagobalane, Director, Ela Green Buildings & Infrastructure, involved in over 70+ green building projects across India. Apart from her LEED consultancy work, Samhita also inspires the students from kindergarten levels towards green education through her LEED-certified Ela Green School (K-12 school in Chennai). Another notable example is the engagement of women into India’s Smart Cities Mission, a game-changing initiative in which women have taken up different roles like waste management coordinators, renewable energy consultants, and urban planners, showing a step towards gender empowerment along with project success.
The green professions offer abundant opportunities for women, particularly in a growing market like India. With ambitious targets such as the goal of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, India is poised to create vast employment opportunities in sectors like installation, operations, and research and development. Women can play a crucial role in driving these initiatives, especially as they contribute to the country’s renewable energy projects. Urban planning initiatives under the Smart Cities mission further offer avenues for women to engage in sustainable solutions for infrastructure development.
As the world progresses toward sustainability, women’s participation in green careers is no longer just a wish but an essential part of the transition. Gender diversity, particularly in leadership and technical roles, fosters innovation and enhances the capacity of the workforce to address complex environmental challenges. To fully unlock the potential of women in green careers, barriers must be overcome, and inclusivity must be actively embraced. After all, the people, especially women, are key to driving the success of the green transition, rather than technology and policy alone.
For a deeper insight into the evolving workplace paradigm, stay tuned to PeopleManager.co.in.
An alumnus of College of Engineering, Guindy and IIM Kolkata, he has more than 20 years of corporate experience in Southeast Asia and Middle East regions.
- Gender Diversity in Green Careers: Current Landscape and Challenges - December 12, 2024
