Gender and transition in climate governance

This article demonstrates how gender is relevant to governance of a transition to a low-carbon economy. It does this through insights derived from gender and transition studies in combination, applied and illustrated through a study of climate governance in Sweden. The approach is constructive and uses as central concepts: transition arenas, niches, regimes and landscapes in combination with theories from gender studies. The article suggests that the two fields are linked through three processes that are necessary to make a transition: to strengthen participation, to deal with oppressive power relations and to challenge institutionalized norms. It illustrates how masculine norms seem to permeate the landscape of climate transitions and argues that gender regimes tend to dictate planning, measures and implementation. Finally, the article proposes that a gender perspective on climate governance would analyze participation in transition arenas and niches by asking who is included in climate governance and what ideas influence climate policies.

► The article demonstrates how gender is implicated in climate transitions.
► The approach is constructive and based on central concepts of transition theory combined with knowledge in gender research.
► A transition is possible if institutionalized norms and powerful regimes are challenged, and representation strengthen.
► The arguments are applied and illustrated through an original case study of climate governance in Sweden.
► Surprisingly, gender equality/parity does not imply that gender aspects are taken into account in climate policies.