Over the years, many publications have raised the alarm on the effects of climate change and how they negatively affect women on a greater scale. Specifically, climate-induced disasters as well as the depletion and pollution of natural resources affect the livelihoods, security, and safety of rural women in under-developed countries. This is a huge cause for concern, and yet the immediate impact of climate change on Ontario women feels much more distant. Indeed, we are extremely privileged as our livelihoods are less precarious and our resources are more abundant. Despite this, a serious problem hides beneath the surface: women remain under-paid and under-represented in key positions that drive climate change action, including in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields. This untapped potential is a glaring missed opportunity as Canadian women care deeply about climate change and research suggests women are more proactive in combating climate change. As we commemorate this year’s #EarthDay on Friday, we look to #InvestInOurPlanet by investing in gender equality.
The green economy has huge growth potential but the gender gap in STEM remains wider than the national average
As the world looks towards a sustainable future, there are significant opportunities for green technologies that not only mitigate the worst effects of climate change but drive the economy as well. Clean technology’s contribution to Canada’s GDP is expected to grow from $26.7 billion in 2016 to nearly $80 billion in 2025 (Government of Canada, 2018). Yet despite this rapid and exponential growth, the gender gap in STEM occupations remains wide in Canada. According to 2016 census data, women made up less than one-third (28%) of workers in the STEM sector. Furthermore, the gender pay gap in STEM is substantial. According to a study looking at earnings of recent Bachelor degree graduates in Canada, women earned 21-23% less than men in agriculture, natural resources and conservation, mathematics, and computer and information sciences, resulting in an average difference of $15,000 CAD (Labour Market Information Council, 2020). For comparison, the average gender pay gap across all sectors in Canada in 2021 was 11% (Statistics Canada, 2021).
What does the gender gap look like through the lens of climate action?
If women are not well-represented in the field of climate action, solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change will most likely have a strong gender bias. This means solutions are likely to benefit men more, leaving women to fend for themselves in the wake. This phenomenon is known as gender-blindness. In her book Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men, Caroline Criado Perez repeatedly demonstrates how gender-blind designs negatively affect women all over the world. In one example, Perez references how the gender-blind snow-clearing schedules in Karlskoga, Sweden, led to women making up the majority of snow-related injuries as women are more likely to use the sidewalks. In a future world with more extreme weather patterns due to climate change, how will gender-blind climate adaptation affect women’s day-to-day lives?
What can you do to invest in women and our planet?
It cannot be stressed enough that representation matters. The Ontario provincial government, Canadian federal government, and Ontario education providers have a number of initiatives aimed at increasing participation of under-represented groups in STEM. Explore these initiatives and encourage the girls/women in your life (or yourself!) to participate.
If you are in a decision-making position in a STEM workplace, work to diversify your team. This may mean updating recruitment processes and HR policies to ensure inclusivity in hiring and managing practices. The good news is that research suggests diverse business teams are more profitable.
Furthermore, ensuring fair and equal pay has the potential to further promote diversity and stimulate the economy. According to McKinsey, narrowing the gender gap could add between $12 and $28 trillion to global GDP. Conducting regular pay equity audits in the workplace can help uncover and redress existing wage gaps.
Visit the Pay Equity Office website to learn more about the gender wage gap and women’s economic justice.
