The lack of women in energy companies is holding back the sector’s efforts to tackle climate change, a leading industry watcher has warned.
Catherine Mitchell, professor of energy policy at the University of Exeter, said poor gender diversity meant the industry was less open to new ideas, in particular the move to a lower carbon energy system.
“I absolutely do think that the fact that the industry is so dominated by men and particularly older white men it is slowing down the energy transition,” said Mitchell, who has worked on energy issues for more than 30 years and advises government, regulators and businesses.
An energy conference featuring women-only panels is being held next month, to address the lack of visibility of female leaders in the sector.
“I thought we really need to have something where all these women who are great get to speak,” said Mitchell, who has helped organise the event.
Source: The Guardian, Retrieved 11 February 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/feb/11/the-energy-industrys-power-problem-too-few-women