Balance between shift to renewable energy and inclusivity urged

LAHORE: Pakistan’s shift to renewable energy risks leaving rural communities and women behind unless policymakers address deep-rooted gaps in energy access and inclusion, experts warned at a roundtable on the second day of the AAS-in-Asia conference at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

The session, “Beyond Decarbonization: Politics of Energy Transition and Gender Justice in Sindh”, explored how large-scale wind and solar projects are reshaping patterns of energy poverty, land use and social exclusion in the province, even as national generation figures rise.

Speakers at the roundtable said Pakistan’s renewable energy boom is masking uneven outcomes on the ground. While wind and solar projects generate substantial electricity for the national grid, communities living near these installations often remain without reliable power of their own, they noted. Panelists argued that success should be measured not just by generation and investment figures, but by real improvements at the household and community level.

The discussion also flagged weaknesses in community consultation, land decision-making and benefit-sharing arrangements, with participants urging greater local involvement in project decisions affecting their land and livelihoods.

A central theme was the neglected gender dimension of the energy transition.

Speakers said women, who typically bear the burden of cooking, childcare and water collection, experience energy poverty in distinct ways yet remain largely absent from energy and climate policymaking. The panel called for better data – including time-use studies – to capture how energy access shapes women’s health, safety, mobility and unpaid labour.

Panelists clarified that critiquing renewable project shortcomings does not amount to endorsing fossil fuels, whose environmental and social costs raise separate concerns.

The session concluded by urging a shift from a purely technical, investment-driven energy policy toward one that centers community participation, gender equity and fair access to renewable energy’s benefits.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026