Citation
Akanksha Jyotishi
Research Scholar
Dept of Political Science
Kalinga University
Dr Anita Samal
Research Guide
Dept of Political Science
Kalinga University
Abstract:
Promoting gender
equality is a key step towards achieving green, sustainable industrial
development, in line with global goals such as the SDGs. This is particularly
true of SDG 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure) and SDG 5 (women's
equality). Traditional gender roles in India have kept women at a disadvantage
in several areas, including access to higher education, the workforce, and
political participation. By providing financial resources, encouraging
business, and advancing their social status, microfinance has enabled rural
women to gain agency. Women are now more actively involved across many sectors,
thanks to recent government initiatives. However, there are still many ways to
go before we reach gender parity, particularly in areas such as healthcare
access, educational opportunities, and political representation. The research
focuses on the barriers women face in the green industry, including a lack of
technical training, funding, and leadership roles, and highlights opportunities
for empowerment through gender-responsive legislation, skill development, and
entrepreneurial assistance. By unleashing women's untapped potential, nations
can accelerate the shift to carbon-neutral industries, create high-quality
green jobs, and achieve equitable transitions that benefit everyone.
Keywords:
Women empowerment, gender equality, sustainable development, green industry,
inclusive industrialization, green economy, renewable energy, entrepreneurship,
policy framework, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
I.
INTRODUCTION
An organised basic right of women to satisfy
the demands of the present without jeopardising the capacity of future
generations to meet their own needs is sustainable development. In this way, it
meets the needs of men and women equally. Resolving the underlying gender
dynamics is essential for achieving intra-generational fairness. The
perpetuation of disparities precludes achieving intergenerational fairness and
fulfilling the obligation to leave a more equitable society to future
generations. Sustainable development is impossible to achieve in the absence of
deliberate efforts to address gender inequality, which is one of the most
widespread types of inequality in the world. Half of the world's population is
female, and in the past 30 years, women have been more instrumental than men in
driving social and economic advancement. Still, males continue to have
disproportionate access to power and resources, even though these groups are
among the most vulnerable in the world. In addition to being an aim in itself,
achieving gender parity is essential to long-term success in economic growth
and development, social progress, and ecological preservation. A sustainable
development route may be achieved by giving women and men equal opportunity,
including in decision-making across all domains, so that the interests of both
sexes are jointly considered when resources are distributed.
Modern society's
social, cultural, and economic progress is all facilitated by women's
empowerment (WEN) [1-2]. When women have the power to decide what happens to
their property, it empowers them economically, allowing them to save for the
future and invest in assets that will last [3-4]. Better health outcomes and
greater control over reproductive health result from empowering people to make
their own choices about their health and family planning. This empowerment
reduces risks and enhances development potential. Better academic achievement,
greater enrolment rates, and the end of the poverty cycle are all outcomes of
giving parents more say in their children's education, which in turn boosts
economic development [5-7]. Leadership, invention, creativity, and logical
decision-making are just a few of the ways in which women greatly contribute to
society's enormous output [8]. Dewi et al. [9] and Chatterjee and Malakar [10]
state that WEN improves economic prosperity and well-being, which leads to
beneficial social transformations. Beyond that, green entrepreneurship may
greatly guarantee performance, WEN, and sustainability [11]. “Several
facilitators, including green incentives (GIS), green entrepreneurial skills
(GESS), and green opportunities (GOS), are very significant and prominent in
promoting societal sustainability, welfare, prosperity, and performance [12–14]”.
On top of that, GIS deals with a number of situations that, when addressed,
contribute to WEN and societal well-being [15].
II.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
A.
Green entrepreneurial skills
(GESS)
Normal
entrepreneurial abilities focus on launching and managing a firm, with an eye
towards expanding into new markets and increasing profits [16]. To make sure
that businesses help maintain a healthy ecosystem while also making a strong
impression on society, GESS adds a layer of social responsibility and
environmental sustainability on top of this [17–18]. The phrase
"green" is more narrowly focused on eco-friendly actions [19],
whereas "sustainability" encompasses a broader, more comprehensive
strategy that balances ecological preservation with economic and social
considerations [20]. To implement sustainable business practices, GESS provides
its members with the education and skills they need, including in-depth
instruction in green business activities [11]. “Skills in green management,
which focus on reducing the negative environmental impacts of a company's
activities, are also required.” Although knowledge of green business planning
guarantees that environmental concerns are prioritised in strategic endeavours,
the ability to lead teams towards sustainable objectives is paramount [21]. The
large GEP and WEN predictors have verified GESS [22]. “Green education and
technology for the development of WEN, innovation, and GEP are among the many
contributions that Mukherjee et al [23],
Muaddab [24], and Yar et al [14] are recognised for.” Women may achieve
long-term economic independence by acquiring marketable skills, sometimes
called "green skills" [25]. According to research [22], GESS improves
WEN within the framework of sustainable development. It is worth noting that
GESS has been validated as a strong predictor of GEP by several authors,
including Papageorgiou et al. [26] and Muaddab [24].
B.
Green entrepreneurship (GEP)
Improvements in
GEP, such as better social links, education, tech integration, financial
access, and policy support, are vital for WEN's growth [27–29]. GEP is also
linked to areas such as sustainable agriculture, green tourism, and renewable
energy, all of which positively affect WEN [31]. Green Energy Partnership (GEP)
promotes eco-friendly businesses and supports methods that increase profit by
reducing manufacturing costs and increasing pretax profits. “Nigeria faces
obstacles to economic development due to environmental challenges such as water
pollution, climate change, and global warming [30].” GEP is a large-scale plan
to adapt to and reduce these effects, helping lessen poverty and guarantee
long-term economic health [32]. Bakari [11] notes that green entrepreneurs
improve sustainable operations by boosting green procurement and staff productivity.
GEP education and promotion also empower women, enhancing their abilities and
confidence so they can take action in their organizations [33]. Anabaraonye et
al. [34] find that GE promotion is crucial for environmental safety and
economic prosperity. Climate change education supports the Sustainable
Development Goals. Nigeria's plastic recycling sector is growing sustainably
due to GE education and green business opportunities [35–36]. “Policy and
institutional frameworks are important for developing GEP, as noted by Fallah
and Soori [37] and Abdelwahed et al [3]; E-entrepreneurship, technology,
marketplaces, and digital platforms may further enhance WEN [38]”.
C.
Women empowerment (WEN)
The belief in
women's ability to make choices about property is central to WEN, as is the
strength and self-assurance that women need to manage and own their own assets.
It promotes women's agency by providing them with the knowledge they need to
make informed choices about their reproductive and general health, including
family planning [39]. “Research should address gaps in the current literature
on the integrated investigation of the effects of GESS, GOS, and GI on GEP and
WEN.” Furthermore, although GESS, GOS, and GI were present, no one dared to
discuss how GEP affected WEN, either directly or indirectly. Lastly, in
context, it would be beneficial for this study to focus more on empowering
Saudi women entrepreneurs of green businesses, even if these women face several
obstacles related to GEP and WEN. “For example, Abdelwahed, Bastian, and Wood [40]
emphasise the cultural and social obstacles that prevent women from engaging in
entrepreneurial pursuits and long-term company endeavours.” When it comes to
green business and entrepreneurship, there are still significant disparities in
corporate transparency, regulatory efforts, and gender equality [41]. It is
acknowledged that e-entrepreneurship may play a part in promoting a green
economy. Many Saudi women still face socioeconomic barriers that prevent them
from fully using digital tools and platforms [42]. Similarly, women
intrapreneurs face significant challenges in green HRM and green innovation
[43]. Therefore, to promote Saudi Vision 2030, it is crucial to establish
regulations and mechanisms that encourage women's participation in green
economic activities [44]. In Saudi Arabia, GEP plays a vital role in creating
WEN, which provides women with a means to participate in long-term economic
activities, promoting their economic autonomy and social participation and
thereby addressing these difficulties. As a result of their involvement, women
are better able to adapt to new green technologies and are also more likely to
have opportunities to break out of sexist norms and become green economic
pioneers.
D.
Women's empowerment and
environment
In light of the SDGs, there has been a
renaissance in academic and policy interest in the connections between gender
equality and environmental sustainability. Empowering women is a structural
factor in achieving environmental outcomes, not just a social justice goal,
according to new research [45]. There are many ways empowered women affect
environmental sustainability, including changes in energy use and household
habits, involvement in environmental governance, new business creation, and
innovation [46]. “Cleaner energy, climate adaptation measures, and sustainable
livelihood practices are highlighted in the expanding body of research that
highlights the positive impact of gender-inclusive governance on environmental
performance [47].”
There is a correlation between greater female
presence in political and business leadership and better environmental
outcomes, according to early empirical research by Lv and Deng [49] and Jiang
and Akbar [48]. These conclusions have been extended to cross-country and
global scales in more subsequent investigations. For example, research by Li et
al. [50] and Sanchez-Olmedo et al. [51] shows that empowering women significantly
lowers greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. On the other hand, studies by Antari
et al. [52] and Zhu and Chen [53] show that gender diversity improves
companies' ESG performance across different regions. Research shows that female
executives are more likely to promote sustainability initiatives, ensure their
companies comply with regulations, and foster a culture of environmental
awareness.
Energy use, land use, and resource management
practices are profoundly affected at the household and community levels by
women's empowerment. Research conducted in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa
has shown that when women have access to clean energy technologies and are
financially included, they help reduce biomass dependency and promote
sustainable consumption, which in turn helps minimise environmental
deterioration [54]. Renewable energy projects that empower women in Ghana
improve energy access and environmental quality, according to Gbolonyo et al.
[55], demonstrating that achieving gender equality and sustainability offers
two benefits. “Thomas [56] agrees with these results and argues that female
entrepreneurs, particularly those in the green business sector, are crucial to
advancing low-carbon innovations and circular-economy models.”
Research on innovation and environmental
governance has shown that when women are actively involved, institutions are
more responsive and technology spreads more quickly. In previous research, Le Loarne-Lemaire
et al. [57] and Wei et al. [58] showed that greater women's agency in
innovation ecosystems leads to more positive technical spillovers and stronger
CSR. New worldwide studies corroborate this finding by showing that
climate-related technological innovation is more efficiently driven by women in
R&D, especially when institutional support and inclusive innovation
platforms are in place [59]. “More socially grounded and equitable
environmental policies that increase collective adaptation capacity to climate
change are associated with women's participation in climate decision-making
[60].”
In addition, new research highlights how
renewable energy and green innovation may work in tandem with women's
empowerment. Renewable energy governance that is inclusive of women and girls
improves environmental outcomes by increasing engagement, accountability, and
fair access to green technology (Vogel et al., 61). Research in underdeveloped
countries has shown that decentralised renewable energy projects that involve
women have a positive impact on both the environment and socioeconomic
resilience [62]. The results show that promoting gender equality during energy
transitions offers additional benefits, such as empowering communities and
reducing poverty, in addition to reducing emissions.
Instead of
viewing women's empowerment as a byproduct of development, recent theoretical
work [63] argues that it should be reframed as a systemic driver of
sustainability. This change is based on the realisation that gender equality
improves governance, increases involvement in environmental policies, and
raises the quality of institutions. Supporting this view is research by
Elbushra et al. [47], which found that empowering women leads to better
resource management and long-term economic diversification. Gender inclusion,
green financing, and information technology work together to accelerate the
shift to sustainable production systems, according to research by Saha et al.
[64] and Han, Zhang, et al. [65].
III.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND WOMEN
Sustainable
development, according to the Commission on Environment and Development, is
progress that satisfies current demands without jeopardising future
generations' capacity to do the same. “There must be harmony among economic
growth, social inclusion, and environmental conservation if sustainable
development is to be achieved.” By creating more opportunities for everyone,
reducing inequality, improving basic living standards, and promoting fair
social development and inclusion, sustainable development aims to eradicate
poverty. Achieving Long-Term Sustainability via Empowering Women. Gender
equality is essential for sustainable development. Having resources distributed
fairly is also crucial. Sustainable economic growth, social development, and
environmental sustainability may be achieved most effectively via the
empowerment of women. The ideals upon which it is built foster unity among
current and future generations. Nutrition, child care, and household management
are primarily the responsibilities of women in almost every country. Women have
crucial roles as farmers, water and fuel collectors, and animal tenders in most
poor countries. At the Rio Earth Summit, women were an integral part of the
decision-making process, and their efforts paid off: Agenda 21 included a
chapter on women and sustainable development, as well as more than 100
references and suggestions related to women. “Participating summits, including
Rio in 1992, Human Rights Conference in 1993, International Conference on
Population and Development in 1994, Social Summit in 1995, and Fourth World
Conference on Women in 1995, have centred on UN initiatives pertaining to
gender, poverty, the environment, human rights, population, and human rights,
as well as the interconnections among these factors.” Consequently, women were
seen as a "major group" in RIO, and their involvement was vital for
attaining sustainable development. Mainstreaming a gender perspective into UN
activity was the primary emphasis of the system. “Additionally, in September
1995, Beijing hosted the Fourth World Conference on Women, which highlighted
the importance of women's empowerment, full participation, and equality as the
cornerstones of peace and sustainable development.”
IV.
ROLE OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Despite the many
hats women wear in India—as housewives, mothers, and workers in the
manufacturing sector—they have mostly gone unrecognised for their contributions
to the country's economic growth. Issues with health, hunger, having children
too often, and schooling were mentioned most frequently. Women need services
such as family planning to reduce their family size, education on earning
money, and easy access to low-interest loans if they are to play an active role
in economic progress. While India's development has been phenomenal, it has not
always been fair or inclusive. Problems with our development model's
foundational assumptions persist, and we mostly use a work-in-progress
approach. Advancing women's agency is the nation's top priority. Since educating
and empowering the majority of women worldwide has consistently been shown to
spur rapid socioeconomic development, it is imperative that this trend
continue. There are 7.5% more women in the world than males, and that number is
made up entirely of Indian women. Their standard of living is rising due to
certain development indicators. The rate of progress is painfully slow, even if
there has been a decline in maternal mortality and an increase in literacy and
the number of women able to access healthcare and education. In addition to
faster and fairer economic growth, societies with more gender equality also
provide better social and economic prospects for women. As a result of
innovation and better decision-making across a range of challenges, poverty
alleviation, environmental sustainability, and consumer choice are all
enhanced. Advancements in both economic growth and gender equality are
complementary. The country's prosperity and inclusion would be fostered if
obstacles encountered by women entrepreneurs were reduced, both domestically
and abroad. This would help connect global value chains. Micro, small, and
medium-sized businesses (MSMEs) are operated by women, and over 30% of MSMEs
are owned by women. A lady owns and operates her firm among the five exporters.
“To achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, as outlined in the
United Nations 2030 Agenda, it is crucial to place women at the centre of
global policymaking.” The primary stages towards empowering women economically
are trade and global women's empowerment, although these efforts are
progressing slowly and in a disorganised fashion. While women may not be
inherently less competent than men in exporting and other wage-earning
occupations, they nevertheless face barriers to knowledge, capital, and
technology. To overcome the first obstacles, they need a little more
motivation. Although women make up around half of the population, they are
underrepresented in positions of power. The majority of these domestic chores
are still carried out by women. The majority of society views her as primarily
a homemaker. For a democracy to really achieve its stated purpose of being
"of the people, by the people, and for the people," it is imperative
that women have equal access to economic and political power. The structural
limitation on women's engagement in political and economic spheres is imposed
by the Women in Society Act. Almost all social groups and economic strata of
women are subject to this limitation. In this respect, the prevalent culture is
quite restrictive. The advancement and empowerment of women can only be
achieved if men acknowledge their rights and believe in their abilities. For
women to feel empowered to make a difference in the world, they must identify
and develop their unique skills and abilities. The freedom to remain quiet is
not the same as the empowerment to debate, communicate, and understand the
merits and demerits of politics to influence policy and decision-making. When
she wants to empower women, she doesn't want to grovel for power or seek a
power structure to use against others; she wants to be an agent of change.
Contrarily, she insists on prioritising human acceptance. To even begin to
address the issue of empowerment, she must first be able to control her own
life, which necessitates that all relevant material, social, political,
cultural, and spiritual resources be readily available to her. In the past,
Indian culture was skewed and rooted in male chauvinism. However, in recent
times, people have begun to see women for what they really are: powerful agents
of change who can contribute to and even direct their own personal growth and
development.
V.
WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Findings from this research on the link
between women's empowerment and environmental sustainability on a worldwide
scale are considerable. Empirical research shows that empowering women reduces
greenhouse gas emissions, thereby improving environmental quality in the short
and long run. One possible explanation for these results is the increased
number of women in positions of power, such as chief executive officers and
board members. These women are strong advocates for green laws and sustainable
corporate practices. In a broader sense, when women are given greater agency,
they are more likely to be involved in politics, get an education, find a job,
and become aware of the need for sustainable living. This is especially true in
rural regions, where the transition to modern energy services significantly
lowers emissions. Involvement of women in agriculture and industry helps reduce
environmental deterioration, as previous research [66] supports these results. “Empowering
women by increasing their economic security and access to cutting-edge energy
technology increases the likelihood that they will advocate for investments in
renewable energy and energy efficiency, which, in turn, improves environmental
quality on a larger scale.”
Additionally, this study examines how gender,
innovation, and climate change interact, with an emphasis on female researchers
and scientists. When contrasted with male researchers' skills in technological
advancement, Xie et al. [67] note that female R&D people show remarkable
efficiency in scientific research. Expanding women's engagement in global
warming solutions, especially in research and patent development, is crucial in
the current context, where inclusive decision-making is required by climate
change legislation. There may be a dramatic uptick in patents aimed at reducing
greenhouse gas emissions if policies and financing systems encouraged more
women to participate in research and development. Important implications for
policies regarding climate innovation stem from the study's need for a more
thorough assessment of women's roles in publicly supported research and
patenting.
When considering environmental consequences
as a whole, the empowerment of women stands out as an important yet sometimes
overlooked factor. Highlighting the vital relevance of incorporating gender
equality into environmental and energy policy, the research shows that
emissions are reduced when more women participate in the labour market. As a
result of their participation in inclusive decision-making, women can influence
household energy decisions, drive green entrepreneurship, and improve
governance. Therefore, gender equality and environmental sustainability may be
advanced in tandem by increasing women's access to leadership roles, financial
resources, and educational opportunities.
Last but not
least, sustainability cannot be achieved through discrete interventions; it
results from the interaction of technical innovation, the adoption of renewable
energy sources, and the empowerment of women. Rather, it calls for concerted
efforts to connect social inclusion, technical advancement, and economic
growth. Achieving global access to green technologies and transitions,
especially for the most vulnerable emerging countries, requires international
collaboration, capacity development, and cross-sectoral alliances. Taken as a
whole, these findings highlight the need for socially inclusive policies that
are also environmentally beneficial, paving the way for a future that is both
sustainable and fair on a global scale.
VI.
CONCLUSION
The integration of social fairness, economic
growth, and environmental responsibility is achieved through women's
empowerment, making it a crucial driver of sustainable, green industrial
development. Innovation, productivity, and resilience are enhanced when women
are empowered in green sectors through education, skill development, financial
access, and leadership opportunities. Essential tenets of green development,
including resource efficiency, community welfare, and long-term sustainability,
are often advanced from the many perspectives of women.
For sustainable industrial strategies to be
fairer and more responsive to society's demands, it is essential that women
participate in policy-making, industrial planning, and green entrepreneurship.
Green technology, sustainable manufacturing, waste management, and renewable
energy all benefit from having more women on staff, as this leads to better
decision-making, more ethical practices, and deeper community ties.
In addition to strengthening the social
pillar of sustainable development, women's economic empowerment helps reduce
poverty, increase household welfare, and ensure sustainability across
generations. Nevertheless, gender-sensitive legislation, legislative
protections, and focused capacity-building programs are necessary to overcome
systemic obstacles, including sexism, uneven access to technology, and
inadequate institutional backing.
Finally, women's
meaningful empowerment is essential to the full realisation of sustainable,
green industrial growth. Achieving inclusive development, environmental
sustainability, and long-term industrial resilience requires advancing gender
equality within green industrial frameworks. This is not just the right thing
to do from a social justice standpoint, but it is also a strategic requirement.
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