Energy is an underlying driver of economic growth and social development. Yet human consumption of energy in the form of fossil fuels, primarily in developed countries, is altering the Earth's climate and contributing to increased vulnerability of the world's poorest people. While evidence suggests a need for both demand reduction and alternative energy sources in the North, in the South, there is a need to increase energy supplies to meet basic needs—and to do it in a way that promotes sustainable development.
Even as developing countries have experienced economic growth, in part due to increased availability of energy, much of the growth has been concentrated in urban areas, with the associated energy supply centralized around large cities.
Many rural areas, on the other hand, lack the basic energy services required for economic and social development.
To address the needs of the rural areas of developing countries, cost effective, efficient and sustainable energy services must be made available. Decentralization of renewable energy services is especially promising, as decentralization has the ability to assist with technology transfer, increase equity in the distribution and consumption of resources, and increase participation of local people in the supply of energy services.
The Climate Change Knowledge Network recognizes the social, economic and environmental value of decentralized renewable energy in rural areas and is posing a number of research questions which will contribute to the design of a sustainable rural energy programs for developing countries. CCKN projects include:
Linking Mitigation and Adaptation through Decentralized Renewable Energy
Members of the Climate Change Knowledge Network (CCKN) are pleased to introduce Seeing the Light: Adapting to climate change with decentralized renewable energy in developing countries.
The newest publication from the CCKN, Seeing the Light highlights the positive contribution of decentralized renewable energy (DRE) to integrated climate policy. The Delhi Declaration states that climate change must be contextualized within developing countries' sustainable development aspirations, key among which is adaptation to climate change. For the poorest third of humanity, the capacity to cope with climate change is synonymous with sustainable development. The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) Plan of Implementation acknowledges that achieving this goal is impossible without more energy. Building coherent climate policy with DRE and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is a win-win opportunity that addresses the South's adaptation needs while having the co-benefit of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Through five country case studies by member organizations, Seeing the Light explores how well-designed decentralized renewable energy projects can build adaptive capacity. The case studies review the DRE and CDM experience in Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Senegal and Zimbabwe. The book concludes with recommendations regarding how the CDM should be supported in host countries, by investor countries, and in a multilateral context by agenda-setting institutions like the United Nations and the World Bank.
Copies of Seeing the Light can be downloaded or ordered through IISD's Publications Centre.
(Project completed: March 2004)
Decentralized Renewable Energy opportunities highlighted at COP-9
On December 3, 2003, the CCKN hosted at side event at COP-9. During this event, CCKN partners highlighted the content of the case studies contained in Seeing the Light: Adapting to climate change with decentralized renewable energy in developing countries. The following presentations were made:
Decentralized Renewable Energy in Rural Areas of Developing Countries
Through case studies in several developing countries, this project analyzed the feasibility of using decentralized renewable energy in rural areas and assessed the possibilities for investing in decentralized renewable energy projects through the Clean Development Mechanism. The rationale for carrying out this project was that energy is the lifeblood of any economy. In particular, energy is necessary to support agricultural development and cottage and agro-business industry, and thus for tackling such important and diverse issues as malnutrition and food shortage, poverty, inequality, gender disparity, and state security—all of which have significant implications for rural populations.
(Project completed: March 2001)
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– Osvaldo Girardin, Bariloche Foundation