Description

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There has been an on-going academic dispute about the relationship between climate change and security. Various researchers have strongly concluded that there is a lack of grounded evidence on how to respond to climate change in a conflict-sensitive way, to avoid ‘mal-adaptation’. The 2016 World Bank’s Climate Action Plan underlines the importance of delivering co-benefits of climate-related development, including security. The G7 report, ‘A New Climate for Peace’ (2015) stresses the need to prevent unintended consequences of low carbon development, particularly regarding human rights and security.

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While aiming for greater human security and resilience – renewables development directly impacts land access and livelihoods resources, and therefore has the potential to weaken resilience and exacerbate insecurity, especially in regions affected by fragility, conflict, and violence. Despite consensus that renewable energy development should be conflict-sensitive, there is insufficient data to support it practically. Further, research has only focussed on ‘mega’ projects that acquire land. There is a lack of data on the potential for smaller-scale, distributed technologies for promoting peace and security.

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The overarching aim of this research is to produce policy-relevant knowledge about the opportunities for conflict-sensitive development and sustaining peace through different renewable energy projects. 

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The project is funded by FORMAS [Project number 2017–01941]

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