Finland for gender equality in energy sector

Finland joins the Equal by 30 campaign that aims to promote gender equality in the energy sector by working towards equal pay, equal leadership, and equal educational and career opportunities for women in the energy sector by 2030.

Finland published its commitment in a side-event to the Clean Energy Ministerial in Copenhagen on 24 May 2018, said a press release.

“Men still represent 75 per cent of the energy workforce in Finland and women only 25 per cent. There is clearly room for improvement here. That is why we at once agreed to join the Equal by 30 campaign when Sweden and Canada proposed it,” said Minister of the Environment, Energy and Housing Kimmo Tiilikainen.

The Equal by 30 campaign is part of the International Energy Agency IEA’s Technology Collaboration Programme that aims to promote the clean energy sector as an equal opportunities’ work environment and highlight the potential available to the energy sector if it employed more women in all positions, including the top management.

Finland commits to ensure equal representation of women and men on the boards of state-owned companies. The objective is to extend the practice to even other publicly owned companies.

The gender pay gap will be reduced by implementing the tripartite Equal Pay Programme.

Gender equality and equal opportunities should be strengthened in education. Equal opportunities for self-development, individual learning and growth will be ensured for all boys and girls.

All government institutions are encouraged to produce gender-disaggregated data and use this data in planning and decision-making. Many companies, too, have defined their own gender equality objectives. Monitoring progress and reporting on it regularly help achieve the objectives.

Four countries (Canada, Sweden, Finland and Italy) and 20 energy-sector companies have so far joined the Equal by 30 campaign, which aims to put gender equality at the heart of the global transition to a clean energy future.