Energy – Global South Policy Review

Hidden Costs of Going Green- the Issues with Ethical Energy Transition

Deepa Sai

The global dash to green energy is not so green after all. We are uncovering the geopolitics and dark sides of the renewable energy transition while countries race to become the next Green powers.

The world is at a critical juncture, urgently needing to combat climate change—a reality that many experts now label a climate emergency. Countries are racing to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources—like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power—because this shift is more urgent than ever. While Big Oil advocates are still aggressive about their ‘drill-baby-drill’ campaigns, there is a hidden race to be the next Green Superpower (especially with nuclear at the hinge).

Minimizing Environmental Impact in Solar Panel Production and Disposal: Towards a Sustainable Lifecycle

Saur Energy Team

As we celebrate the growth of renewable energy, particularly solar, we must also address the environmental footprint left by the very technologies that propel this transition. Solar energy is undeniably central to a sustainable future, but the environmental impact of producing and disposing of solar panels must not be overlooked. We believe that a responsible, sustainable approach to solar panel production and disposal can significantly enhance the industry’s long-term environmental benefits.

Can Cities Run on Renewables? Kenya’s Kisumu County Has a Roadmap to Prove It

Barbara Riedemann

On 1 August 2024, ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives), in partnership with the County Government of Kisumu, Kenya unveiled a tailored-made roadmap towards 100% renewable energy by 2050. Under the 100% Renewables Cities and Regions Roadmap project, Kisumu is sparking the shift to transition its energy landscape. By targeting key sectors such as electricity, transport and clean cooking, the county is setting a powerful example for urban areas worldwide on how to embrace renewable energy solutions.

Energy for Peace: Blended Finance for Clean Energy and Economic Development in Colombia

Natalie Alm

If there is energy, there is development,” says a coffee buyer in Colombia.
Years of conflict have led to significant underdevelopment in rural and hard-to-reach communities in Colombia. Many of these communities struggle to access a reliable, affordable, and sustainable source of energy, which negatively affects their quality of life and economic prospects. Even when there is political will to help, local governments face challenges in providing energy, and the private sector has largely lacked interest in these investments due to high costs, risks, and consumers’ inability to pay for the services.

The Climate Opportunity for the New UK Government

Dr. Neil Grant

As the new UK government assumes office, it has a pivotal opportunity to steer the country toward stronger climate action. The policies and strategies set in the coming months will determine the UK’s capacity to meet its international climate commitments. This analysis outlines the critical steps the government must take to close the ambition gap and align its actions with the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement.

We need accountability from oil companies at COP28, not leadership

Omair Ahmad

In his masterful polemic, Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World, the American journalist Anand Giridharadas takes a close look at how charitable giving by billionaires impedes rather than helps reform.

Nigeria’s new blue economy ministry could harness marine resources – moving the focus away from oil

Isa Olalekan Elegbede

Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced a new ministerial portfolio in August: Marine and Blue Economy.

Thousands of people have protested against the plan to turn Rempang into an 'ecocity.' Photo: YouTube Screengrab Al Jazeera via AFP / Yasuyoshi Chiba

Victims of the green energy boom? The Indonesians facing eviction over a China-backed plan to turn their island into a solar panel ‘ecocity’

Nikita Sud

I first visited Rempang island in Summer 2022. Greeting me were lush fields lined with coconut and banana trees, picture-book fishing villages with houses jutting into the water on stilts, and boats carrying people between the dozens of islands that dot the Riau archipelago in western Indonesia. I had made

Climate change: Kenya’s power sector is a shining example, the big hurdles are household and transport emissions

Anderson Kehbila

Anderson Kehbila, Stockholm Environment Institute Kenya’s ambition is to reduce carbon emissions by one-third by 2030, relative to the business-as-usual scenario of 143 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. It also seeks to reduce carbon emissions to as close to zero as possible by 2050. How and whether these goals

Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, CEO of the United Arab Emirates’ state oil company, will be leading the COP28 United Nations climate conference. Francois Walschaerts/AFP via Getty Images

Backlash to the oil CEO leading the UN climate summit overlooks his ambitious agenda for COP28 – and concerns of the Global South

Ibrahim Ozdemir

Ibrahim Ozdemir, Clark University In December 2023, negotiators from countries worldwide will meet in the United Arab Emirates for the next round of international climate talks. While the talks are considered essential to securing global agreements needed to avoid dangerous climate change, confidence in the summit, known as COP28, is

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