Workshop on the Role of Women in Energy Conservation

The Women’s Affairs Unit at the Center of Urban and Regional Planning for Postgraduate Studies at the University of Baghdad held a workshop entitled “The Role of Women in Energy Conservation Towards More Sustainable Societies.” The workshop was presented by two faculty members from the center, Assistant Professor Dr. Suad Jaber and Assistant Lecturer Najwa Sadiq, and was attended by a number of faculty members and staff.

The workshop aimed to raise awareness among families about the importance of energy conservation by 50% within two years (initially) through women-led campaigns. It also aimed to reduce household electricity consumption by 15-20% by implementing five simple habits guided by women. This initiative culminates in an educational goal of integrating the concept of the “green home” into kindergarten and primary school curricula under the supervision of female teachers, while simultaneously increasing women’s representation on local energy and environment committees to 30%.

The workshop addressed several key themes, beginning with an awareness and cultural focus on building community understanding of the importance of energy and the carbon footprint through the roles of mothers and teachers. It also covered behavioral and household-based approaches, emphasizing the rationalization of daily consumption (electricity, water, and gas). The economic and entrepreneurial focus centered on empowering women through renewable energy and circular economy projects, while the educational and training aspect aimed to integrate sustainability and energy efficiency concepts into curricula and training centers.

The workshop recommended adopting “Energy Ambassador” initiatives to train women from each neighborhood for knowledge sharing. It also recommended supporting green women-led projects, such as providing accessible loans for recycling, urban agriculture, and the sale of energy-efficient products. Furthermore, the workshop stressed the need for partnerships with schools to teach students about energy monitoring at home, encouraging them to share these concepts with their families. Finally, it emphasized the importance of involving women in planning and designing conservation programs after assessing the actual needs of their households.