Energy Communities at the Intersection of Clean Energy Access, Gender, and Sustainable Development

Abstract

Over the past quarter-century, the core axis of global energy and environmental policies has been shaped by the fight against climate change. In this context, interest in renewable energy sources has increased with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable energy systems. Among the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations, ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all holds a prominent position. However, access to renewable energy remains limited globally, particularly for vulnerable groups. Gender-based inequalities are among the main factors that restrict women’s access to these technologies and their participation in energy-related knowledge. In this regard, energy communities stand out as key actors in building a more inclusive energy transition, due to their structures that prioritize democratic participation, promote collective production and consumption at the local level, and aim for the fair distribution of common benefits. These structures have the potential not only to reshape energy production processes but also to transform access to information, decision-making, and empowerment processes from the perspective of social justice. This study presents a discussion on how community-based energy approaches can help overcome the structural barriers women face in accessing renewable energy. The main aim of the study is to analyze how energy communities can support gender equality in access to energy and to examine their transformative role in building sustainable, equitable, and participatory energy systems through the case of the Green Thought Association. Accordingly, it argues that a transformation centered on energy justice, going beyond technical solutions to the energy transition, is both necessary and possible.

Keywords

• Energy Access
• Gender
• Community-Based Approach
• Renewable Energy

Yenilenebilir Enerjiye Erişim, Toplumsal Cinsiyet ve Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma Kesişiminde Enerji Toplulukları

Abstract

Son çeyrek yüzyılda küresel enerji ve çevre politikalarının temel eksenini, iklim değişikliğiyle mücadele oluşturmaktadır. Bu bağlamda, yenilenebilir enerji kaynaklarına yönelik ilgi, sera gazı emisyonlarını azaltmak ve sürdürülebilir enerji sistemlerini teşvik etmek amacıyla artış göstermektedir. Birleşmiş Milletler tarafından belirlenen Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma Amaçları (SKA) arasında, herkes için uygun fiyatlı, güvenilir, sürdürülebilir ve modern enerjiye erişimin sağlanması önemli bir yer tutmaktadır. Ancak mevcut durumda, yenilenebilir enerjiye erişim dünya genelinde ve özellikle kırılgan gruplar açısından hâlâ sınırlı düzeydedir. Toplumsal cinsiyet temelli eşitsizlikler, kadınların bu teknolojilere erişimini ve enerji alanındaki bilgiye katılımını kısıtlayan başlıca faktörlerden biridir. Bu bağlamda, enerji toplulukları; demokratik katılımı önceleyen yapıları, yerel ölçekte kolektif üretim ve tüketimi teşvik etmeleri ve ortak faydanın adil paylaşımını hedeflemeleri bakımından, daha kapsayıcı bir enerji dönüşümünün inşasında önemli aktörler olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Bu tür yapılar, enerji üretim süreçlerinin yanı sıra, bilgiye erişim, karar alma ve güçlenme süreçlerini de toplumsal adalet perspektifiyle yeniden şekillendirme potansiyeline sahiptir. Bu çalışma, topluluk temelli enerji yaklaşımlarının, kadınların yenilenebilir enerjiye erişimindeki yapısal engelleri nasıl aşabileceğine dair bir tartışma ortaya koymaktadır. Çalışmanın temel amacı, enerji topluluklarının, enerjiye erişim süreçlerinde toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliğini nasıl destekleyebileceğini ve bu yapıların sürdürülebilir, adil ve katılımcı enerji sistemlerinin inşasındaki dönüştürücü rolünü Yeşil Düşünce Derneği (YDD) üzerinden analiz etmektir. Bu doğrultuda, enerji geçişine yönelik teknik çözümlerin ötesine geçilerek, enerji adaletini merkeze alan bir dönüşümün mümkün ve gerekli olduğu savunulmaktadır.

Keywords

• Enerjiye Erişim
• Toplumsal Cinsiyet
• Topluluk Temelli Yaklaşım
• Yenilenebilir Enerji

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