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A. Lugonzo and K. Chege
energy, and account for the majority of global energy consumption.
1
Similarly, minerals play a significant role in the energy industry, for
example, cobalt is increasingly becoming essential, as it is used in the
manufacturing of electric vehicles, and other vital elements of the global
efforts to transition to cleaner sources of energy.
2 The focus of this
chapter is on gender and technology issues specifically in the oil and gas,
and mining industries, as elements of the energy industry, in line with
the global developments in energy transitions.
It is becoming increasingly evident that the world is continuously transitioning as a result of different factors, including the growing influence
of technology in different areas, especially the advent of the so-called
Fourth Industrial Revolution (referred to henceforth as “the 4IR”).
The 4IR refers to a phenomenon that is characterized by technological innovations as well as the growing utilization of new technologies,
which include among other things: Artificial Intelligence (“AI”), cloud
computing, blockchain technologies, Virtual Reality (VR), robotics, 3D
printing, among others.
3 These innovations have ushered in an era of
digital transformation and globalization in the twenty-first century that
has revolutionized the global economy, including the energy and extractives sector. The influence of the 4IR on the energy and extractives sector
is the focus of this chapter, particularly the position of women amid the
4IR.
The growing influence of the 4IR has been acknowledged around the
world. For example, in 2019 last year, the 4IR was the focus of the
World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
4
The theme for the meeting was: ‘Globalisation 4.0: Shaping a Global
1 OECD, ‘Energy’ (2011) OECD Green Growth Studies, 17, https://www.oecd.org/greeng
rowth/greening-energy/49157219.pdf, accessed March 16, 2020.
2 A new World Bank report reveals that over 3 billion tons of metals and minerals
will be needed to utilize geothermal, solar and wind power (i.e. alternative and cleaner
sources of energy), in order to replace carbon-intensive technologies. For further discussion, see, The World Bank, ‘Mineral Production to Soar as Demand for Clean Energy
Increases’ (2020), https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/05/11/mineral-produc
tion-to-soar-as-demand-for-clean-energy-increases, accessed March 16, 2020.
3 David Peetz, Digitalisation and the Jobs of the Future (ANU Press 2019), 93.
4 World Economic Forum, ‘Globalisation 4.0 Shaping a New Global Architecture in the Age of
the Fourth Industrial Revolution’ (2019) World Economic Forum White Paper, http://www3.
weforum.org/docs/WEF, Globalization 4.0 Call for Engagemen.pdf accessed April 14, 2020.
A. Lugonzo and K. Chege
energy, and account for the majority of global energy consumption.
1
Similarly, minerals play a significant role in the energy industry, for
example, cobalt is increasingly becoming essential, as it is used in the
manufacturing of electric vehicles, and other vital elements of the global
efforts to transition to cleaner sources of energy.
2 The focus of this
chapter is on gender and technology issues specifically in the oil and gas,
and mining industries, as elements of the energy industry, in line with
the global developments in energy transitions.
It is becoming increasingly evident that the world is continuously transitioning as a result of different factors, including the growing influence
of technology in different areas, especially the advent of the so-called
Fourth Industrial Revolution (referred to henceforth as “the 4IR”).
The 4IR refers to a phenomenon that is characterized by technological innovations as well as the growing utilization of new technologies,
which include among other things: Artificial Intelligence (“AI”), cloud
computing, blockchain technologies, Virtual Reality (VR), robotics, 3D
printing, among others.
3 These innovations have ushered in an era of
digital transformation and globalization in the twenty-first century that
has revolutionized the global economy, including the energy and extractives sector. The influence of the 4IR on the energy and extractives sector
is the focus of this chapter, particularly the position of women amid the
4IR.
The growing influence of the 4IR has been acknowledged around the
world. For example, in 2019 last year, the 4IR was the focus of the
World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
4
The theme for the meeting was: ‘Globalisation 4.0: Shaping a Global
1 OECD, ‘Energy’ (2011) OECD Green Growth Studies, 17, https://www.oecd.org/greeng
rowth/greening-energy/49157219.pdf, accessed March 16, 2020.
2 A new World Bank report reveals that over 3 billion tons of metals and minerals
will be needed to utilize geothermal, solar and wind power (i.e. alternative and cleaner
sources of energy), in order to replace carbon-intensive technologies. For further discussion, see, The World Bank, ‘Mineral Production to Soar as Demand for Clean Energy
Increases’ (2020), https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/05/11/mineral-produc
tion-to-soar-as-demand-for-clean-energy-increases, accessed March 16, 2020.
3 David Peetz, Digitalisation and the Jobs of the Future (ANU Press 2019), 93.
4 World Economic Forum, ‘Globalisation 4.0 Shaping a New Global Architecture in the Age of
the Fourth Industrial Revolution’ (2019) World Economic Forum White Paper, http://www3.
weforum.org/docs/WEF, Globalization 4.0 Call for Engagemen.pdf accessed April 14, 2020.