This year’s International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum (IVECF) will feature several gender and social inclusion dialogues, showcasing the essential role of women, youth and underrepresented groups in driving a just energy transition. The event will take place on 9–10 April 2026 in Vienna, bringing global leaders together to accelerate solutions for a secure, inclusive and climate‑resilient energy future.

Additional gender‑focused deep‑dive sessions, including clean cooking and gender‑just energy access, will further highlight the importance of feminist and intersectional approaches in advancing SDG7 and SDG5. 

To celebrate its 5-year anniversary, the Gender and Energy Compact will host a dedicated pre‑forum dialogue on 8 April, followed by an innovation and entrepreneurship roundtable discussion and networking.  

Gender and Energy Compact Dialogue

From commitment to action: Accelerating a gender-just energy transition

Marking the 5‑year anniversary of the Gender and Energy Compact, the dialogue will accelerate concrete steps to advance women’s leadership, gender-responsive policy and inclusive energy innovation. With only four years remaining to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the event will set the stage for gender-transformative action in the global energy transition. The Dialogue will convene governments, development partners, private sector actors, financial institutions, youth and civil society, alongside the Gender and Energy Compact signatories. 

Building on five years of collective action, the  event will culminate with the launch of a Call to Action to strengthen women’s leadership, fosters equitable energy systems and anchors gender equality at the heart of the post‑2030 energy framework

Speakers: 

• Damilola Ogunbiyi
  CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, Co-Chair of UN-Energy (tbc)
• Ambassador María Erla Marelsdóttir
  Iceland‘s Climate Ambassador
• Gerd Müller
  Director General, UNIDO (tbc)
• Sheila Oparaocha
  Director of the ENERGIA International Network on Gender and Sustainable Energy
• Rana Ghoneim
  Director, Division of Energy and Climate Action, UNIDO
• Martin Niemitz
  Sustainable Development Officer, UNDESA
• Giulia Manconi
  Senior Energy Security Advisor, OSCE
• Christine Lins
  Executive Director, Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition (GWNET)
• Mwanahamisi Singano
  Director of Policy,  Women’s Environment and Development Organization (tbc)

Join the conversation, join the Gender and Energy Compact!