Women's Barriers to Utilizing Renewable Energy and Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Understanding women's perspectives on barriers to renewable energy adoption is critical for a successful transition to climate-resilient futures. However, these barriers remain underexplored, particularly in fossil-fuel-rich countries such as Iran. This study examined women's opinions on barriers to implementing renewable energy in daily activities through semi-structured interviews. The interviewees were women residing in Tehran, and the number of interviews was determined based on the "purposive sampling" and "theoretical sampling" methods. Collecting data continued until no new features and concepts emerged. Employing grounded theory, we developed a model categorizing women’s views into causal conditions (e.g., energy definitions, consumption behavior, renewable energy applications, global warming), context conditions (e.g., energy value, policy, accessibility, infrastructure), and intervening conditions (e.g., indigenous knowledge, motivation). The findings reveal a strong interest among participants in adopting renewable energy and supporting sustainable development goals (SDGs). However, various barriers limit their participation, highlighting the need for targeted public policies. The study also identified gaps in achieving SDGs 5 (Gender Equality), 7 (Affordable & Clean Energy), 11 (Sustainable Cities & Communities), 12 (Responsible Consumption & Production), and 13 (Climate Action). By amplifying women’s voices, this research offers critical insights for policymakers to foster a more inclusive and sustainable future for all.