This is a summary report of a side event to the UNFCCC COP 9 in Milan titled ‘Promoting Gender Equality, Providing Energy Solutions, and Preventing Climate Change’, organised by the Swedish Ministry of Environment, on behalf of the Network of Women Ministers for the Environment. The overall question for the seminar was how a gender equality perspective can be mainstreamed in the energy and transport planning cycle, while at the same time economic, political, social and environmental requirements are addressed.