On International Women’s Day 2025, UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the urgent need to address gender disparities in all sectors, emphasizing that “women’s rights are under attack.” He spoke about the persistence of “age-old horrors – violence, discrimination, and economic inequality,” calling for collective action to level the playing field for women and girls.
As with many sectors, the cooling sector in many countries lacks diversity with low participation of women in the workforce across a range of professions. To spotlight this issue and help advance this agenda, UNEP Cool Coalition, in collaboration with Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE) and Women in District Cooling – India Chapter, hosted a webinar on ‘Women in District Cooling: Driving Inclusive and Resilient Solutions for India’ on 7 March 2025. The discussion explored how district cooling can address India’s growing cooling demands while creating career opportunities for women in this critical sector.
Key Takeaways: Women, Innovation and Sustainable Cooling
As India experiences rising extreme heat events, district cooling is emerging as a transformative solution for urban resilience, energy efficiency, and climate action. However, women remain underrepresented in this sector. This webinar highlighted how diversity, innovation, and sustainability go hand in hand, emphasizing the need to bridge gender gaps in the cooling industry.
The panelists – from government, industry, UN and academia – shared their personal journeys, highlighting challenges and opportunities for women in the cooling industry and the need for increased participation, training, and awareness. Key discussions also focused on career opportunities for women in sustainable cooling, the need for technical training and mentorship, and the importance of urban resilience in cooling solutions. By fostering gender diversity in the energy and cooling sector, we can accelerate innovation, ensure more inclusive decision-making, and create a more climate-resilient future.
A key initiative supporting this is the District Cooling Hub, a project led by UNEP Cool Coalition, GIZ, and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. This initiative aims to expand the adoption of district cooling in India while placing specific emphasis on upskilling and ensuring participation and opportunities for women across the value chain.
The webinar reinforced the importance and opportunity of fostering diversity, investing in sustainable cooling solutions, and driving collaborative efforts to build climate-resilient cities. Aligning with global calls to action, UNEP and other partners in the Cool Coalition can help create the environment where women can lead and thrive in the cooling sector.
