Breaking Barriers: Empowering Women in the Cooling Sector

The refrigeration and air conditioning sector has an increasing role in ensuring sustainable livelihoods, including safe access to food and health. However, women are underrepresented in the sector, with participation ranging from 8-30% in different regions. Being committed to promote gender equality in end-of-life-management of refrigerants, COPA organized two awareness raising workshops in August 2024 for its members.

53 COPA members participated in an English and Spanish session and experienced a webinar combining interactive activities, information input and practical exercises. The trainer presented the barriers for women´s participation in the sector and how to overcome them. Afterwards, participants shared their experiences of attracting and retaining women into the RAC sector and agreed: Supportive workplaces and a flexible working culture for parents is the main concern. Additionally, the access to the RAC market for women and the gender pay-gap needs to be considered.

A historical timeline to enrich gender Analysis

The trainer provided participants with a new tool to graphically represent the gender debate and context in their gender analysis. By developing a historical timeline, the participants’ knowledge and personal experiences related to gender equality – experienced in various areas of life – were captured. It offers participants the opportunity to exchange ideas and fill in any gaps.

In 2023, following a gender baseline assessment for the COPA project in 2023, intervention areas to promote gender equality in the program were identified. Amongst them, the need to increase awareness amongst members and stakeholders was identified.

As a next step, COPA will offer expert advice in gender mainstreaming in ODS and HFC control and end-of-life activities.

View the recording of the Spanish Session. 

View the recording of the English Session.