The interim report of the London Climate Resilience Review defines “resilience” in accordance with the London Environment Strategy, outlining it as “the capacity of a system to bounce back from the impacts of severe pressures that may have resulted in damage.” The London Environment Strategy, created by the Office of the Mayor of London, presents a bold vision for enhancing London’s environment for the well-being of all residents through its website and an easy-to-read PDF document.

The City Resilience Framework

The event’s inciting discussion between Jo da Silva and Emma Howard Boyd focused on naming and outlining the risks posed by climate change across the UK. Each participant underscored the significant role that government and financial leaders must play in building climate resilience; The pairs emphasized that there is an increasing regional awareness about the repercussions of climate change, particularly in London.

Jo da Silva described the direct impacts of climate change as risks to our entire global society, including the loss of life and a decrease in average quality of life, damage to essential infrastructure networks, and increasingly frequent interruptions to global trade. Da Silva has been involved in city resilience work since 2007 and has been a part of the Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network, contributing to projects in 10 cities across Asia. Her experience has led her to recognize the urgent need to address the impacts of climate change, which led to the City Resilience Framework set to be implemented across  200 cities worldwide. The growing impetus for major urban centers like London to take dire action is evident, given that cities are responsible for the majority of carbon dioxide emissions while accommodating 60% of the global population,  serving as major hubs in the global economy.

Therefore, the “London Climate Resilience Review” is an important document that Emma Howard Boyd has facilitated as her career in green finance has evolved over time. She worked at the fore of London Climate Resilience projects from 2016 to 2022, understanding how the government works, commissioning global adaptation, working across many boards through climate foundations, Green Finance, joint environment, and tenacious networking. If we compare Emma’s approach to what we see (or more actually do not see) in other sectors like banking, the versatility and utility of Howard Boyd’s approach is clear. 

The release of 3-minute videos by the BBC, offering recommendations and highlighting the risks of climate shocks in London, inspired Emma to launch the Climate Resilience Review, focusing on local-level actions for adaptation to achieve net zero and reduce the loss of lives by building resilience.

The final version of the review was published after the general elections, and it is available at here.

London is reaching 40 degrees

Seemingly all at once, water consumption increased, and many parts of London nearly ran out of potable water. In an act of shared community sacrifice, the city massively reduced water consumption; this is the power of collective participation, a delightful surprise to behold in action.

This type of communal living and effort is also not negotiable for a resilient city. Cities need to build networks of inter-industry, inter-community solidarity to properly defend themselves against the increasingly violent challenges posed by climate change. Through reading the “London Climate Resilience Review”, we are tasked  to think about cross-industry investment and the value of educating stakeholders and community members on what they can do when the next heatwave hits. Only through building robust systems of education and preparedness can cities hope to avoid major hazards from climate change.

The impact on global youth

Even though the conversation did not directly address the involvement of the youth, through networking, we were able to discuss this key demographic’s potential and the role of the next generation of leaders in the energy and climate spaces. Globally, youth are one of the most vulnerable populations to the effects of climate change. High temperatures can impact air quality, affect student learning and productivity, and even influence behavior. Youth also possess limited capital and economic agency when compared to previous generations, limiting their ability to achieve self-sufficiency in the face of a changing climate.

By collaborating globally and intentionally fostering the involvement of young actors and leaders, we can empower the new generation to drive creative climate solutions that will bring a cleaner future for all. This point is also highlighted in the preliminary report as a recommendation to the Mayor of London, which urges London’s participation in initiatives such as the Global Challenge Lab, which organizes a competition for students to generate innovation toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Throughout the report’s suggestions, it is made clear that the best way to build adaptable and resilient cities is for individuals, officials, and the city itself, to want to belong to something bigger: a global movement of climate resilience.

The London Climate Resilience Review

The review examines actions required at national, regional, and local levels to reduce climate change impacts in London. It emphasizes ensuring that vulnerable populations will benefit from adaptation efforts and helps all Londoners prepare for and recover from climate-related events.  Vulnerability to the negative impacts of climate change is not felt evenly throughout London’s demographics; according to research by CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project), low-income households, elderly people, marginalized and minority communities, children and youth, as well as vulnerable health groups are consistently the most vulnerable to climate hazards across the UK’s local authorities.

Howard Boyd’s review recommends embracing an adaptive pathways approach to empowering decision-makers, where organizations, private companies, and governmental institutions proactively plan for future climate hazards by remaining agile to the latest climate science, growth projections, and changes in the local environment. At a roundtable hosted for the review, one participant emphasized the power of adaptation in imagining the desired future. The London Plan propels action through policies on crucial areas such as overheating and cooling, urban greening, and flood risk management. Here’s why:

London’s Climate Risks

• • Heat.

In July 2022, London hit 40°C, resulting in significant impacts such as wildfires, strain on emergency services, and infrastructure breakdown. Heat exposure led to substantial labor hours lost and a rise in heat-related deaths. Additionally, rising temperatures have been linked to increased violent crimes and impacts on mental health.

• • Drought

In England, the public water supply faces a potential shortfall of nearly 4 billion liters of water per day by 2050. London is already experiencing water stress, with high temperatures leading to increased water consumption and low reservoir levels. The economic costs of drought in 2012 were substantial, and a water shortage could cost London’s economy £500 million per day. Solutions include building a new reservoir, investing in leak reduction, implementing smart metering, and educating the public about water efficiency. 

• • Rising  Sea Levels 

London’s current river defenses protect homes, infrastructure, and businesses. With sea levels expected to rise, proactive action is needed to strengthen the Thames’ defenses and invest in London’s riverside.

• • Surface Water Flooding

The flooding in London in July 2021 caused major disruption and flooded over 2,000 properties with stormwater and sewage. More than 30 tube stations were affected, and hospital wards were evacuated. According to Zurich UK, flooding from torrential rain threatens 42% of the capital’s 301,000 commercial buildings. The average cost of flooding to a home is £30,000 and £82,000 to a business. Additionally, the increase in winter rainfall has led to wetter conditions for football and rugby union, resulting in the cancellation of around 120,000 games per season.

• • Wildfires

Wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity around the world and London is no exception. These fires are a growing threat to London’s rural/urban interface, as shown at Wanstead Flats in 2018 and Wennington in July 2022. More focus should be on prevention and the preservation of biodiversity must be considered in any wildfire strategy. However, London has not yet developed a formal strategy for managing wildfires.

• • Wider Climate Risk

Even though the framework approaches cities at their individual levels, London is susceptible to climate-related disasters from other parts of the world as no city on Earth can consider itself truly insulated from the movements and currents of geopolitics. Severe storms, flooding, and droughts can disrupt energy and food supply, and lead to migration and conflicts; the potential emergence of tropical diseases is also a concern. As climate change and its effects continue to alter the way humans see each other and our “resources,” several experts predict an increase in global political instability. Being aware of this fact can help Londoners stay informed and aware of the changing world around them.

Building from London Climate Resilience

Throughout London Climate Resilience, the following principles have evolved to  guide action on climate adaptation and the implementation of its recommendations:

1. When adapting London to climate change, it’s important to prioritize the needs of the people, involve local leadership, reduce vulnerability, and address socio-economic and racial inequality.

2. Climate change adaptation should be integrated into decision-making at all levels, and organizations should ensure that adaptation efforts are supported at a strategic level and clearly assigned responsibility.

3. Climate change adaptation should be coordinated with efforts to achieve net zero emissions for a comprehensive approach.

4. Adaptive pathways approaches are encouraged. Given climate change’s unpredictability, it’s crucial to remain flexible while addressing known risks and critical thresholds.

• •  Supporting decision-makers in identifying suitable actions for now and the future.
  • Helping institutions, organizations, and private companies prepare for future climate risks by staying updated on the latest climate science, growth projections, investment opportunities, and other changes in the local environment to enable better planning.

5. Prioritizing nature-based solutions is crucial at all times. These solutions involve safeguarding, overseeing, and rejuvenating both natural and human-altered ecosystems to tackle societal problems. By addressing issues like climate change, human health, food and water security, and disaster risk reduction, these solutions can benefit both people and nature.

The experience of attending a climate resilience review event of this type made it clear how many hardworking-devoted people are invested in completing this type of essential work and organization, but also that there is much more to be done. London is also only a single city, situated in a part of the world with a historically greater access to wealth and resources. How might the problems Londoners are facing be impacting others in parts of the world with less overall development? We hope to see Climate Resilience Plans begin to populate the world, while we continue to advocate for a greener, cleaner, future.

The London Climate Resilience Review document can be reviewed here.

The event took place at Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace. The panel sessions were followed by an opportunity to roller skate, with a live DJ playing and Flipper’s staff training beginners. It was a moment to embrace climate joy after discussions around eco-anxiety. 

A summary of each session that will hopefully leave you feeling as inspired to act as we did. 

Introduction

The Buddhist monk Brother Spirit invited the audience to practice mindfulness and connect with one of the major elements of this planet: water. Paying attention to this precious element and how we consume it frames a reminder to preserve our environment before opening the conversations about climate change.

Conversation

Maggie Baird (founder of Support and Feed), Ade Adepitan, (paralympic medalist and British television presenter). 

Maggie and Ade shared their experiences of travelling around the world and witnessing the impact of climate change in different ways. Adepitan highlighted how climate change was acknowledged decades ago and that we’ve been in this mess since industrialisation. We’re all feeling the impact of climate change since we live in an interconnected world. We’re conscious of the natural disasters unfolding and their impact on people, and even though science is there to mitigate climate change, there’s still a lot we should do. 

When asked what climate challenges or stories stood out to him from his travels,  Adepitan mentioned Australia, where people are still navigating the effects of climate change, such as wildfires and increased desertification, and their consequences. He then reminded the audience that we must listen to people from frontline communities because they’re often the most affected by and least responsible for climate change. As active community members, we must challenge our leaders to seek climate justice. 

But how do we stay hopeful? Adepitan suggests that we acknowledge that overconsumption is a big part of the problem and adjust our lives according to our environment. We must mimic our planet’s actions and respect the environment and its processes.

First Panel: How to Become an Activist – Nobody’s Perfect

Featured: Issey Gladston (Journalist, Photographer and podcaster)  as moderator, Dominique Palmer (Climate  Justice Activist, Storyteller & Writer), Lauren the Sunflower(#StopRosebank Campaigner) and Farah Ahmed (Climate Justice Lead, Julie’s Bicycle)

During the panel discussion, all the participants talked about their involvement in various movements, organisations or campaigns. They shared their journey of becoming activists and discussed their initial career steps. They also shared their individual definitions of the word ‘activist’ and “how to start on this path”.

Issey, Dominique, and Lauren embarked on their professional journeys after realising the seriousness of the climate crisis at a young age. They observed how this crisis affected our way of life and understood that no significant changes were in place to address it. Climate justice involves recognising that the impacts of the climate crisis are not uniform and that marginalised communities are particularly vulnerable to its effects due to systemic oppression. They participated in various activities such as joining climate protests, working behind the scenes, running social media, handling logistics, live streaming events, and organising climate strikes. As time passed, they discovered that their personal stories and the power of storytelling could be harnessed to engage more people in the subject of the climate crisis and became more active in their movement. 

With a background in fashion design, Farah had a different perspective on climate crisis discussions. Farah started a career in Julie’s Bicycle, not knowing much about climate change. Through time, Farah learned from colleges and absorbed what was happening around the community. Farah’s involvement in climate justice became more pronounced.

The panel conveyed an important message that there are multiple ways to become an activist and demystify the process of getting involved in a movement. Being an activist doesn’t mean being in the spotlight or leading on the stage; it can simply involve taking any possible action to bring change equitably. Activists come from various backgrounds and possess different skills contributing to making a difference within the justice frame. The major advice from all panelists was to start by joining a small or local community movement. 

Second Panel: What’s Food Got To Do With It?

Featured: Moderated by Maggie Baird, with panelists Robbie Lockie (Co-Founder of Plant-based News), Gemma Hoskins (UK Senior Director), and Omar McQueen (Vegan Chef). 

Panelists talked about how the food industry is often left out of conversations about climate change and how the meat industry has a significant impact on the environment. They shared surprising food industry data and how certain products are marketed deceptively to push a false narrative about health in pursuing profits.

Prioritizing the taste of our food as consumers, without considering its impact on the environment, was discussed by the panelist and we can contribute by choosing to incorporate more vegetables and plant-based products into our diets. The panelists recommend educating ourselves on the subject and exploring our creativity when cooking our meals to make it a fun experience. Doing so can ensure that we enjoy our food while caring for the environment.

Presentation: Choked Up’s Journey towards the Environmental Movement and Campaigns

Featured: Beau Boka-Bates, co-founder of Choke Up

Beau Boka-Bates shared Choked Up’s journey towards the environmental movement and campaigns that stress the importance of understanding and acting in favour of climate justice. Beau also shared a beautiful poem named “ I Speak the Language of Clean Air.”

Third Panel: Eco-Anxiety

Featured: Alice Aedy (documentary filmmaker and CEO of Earthrise Studio) (Tori Tsui, an activist and author),  Brother Spirit (Buddhist monk), Koteka Wenda (Free West Papua Campaign)

This panel focused on how everyone can navigate climate anxiety through music, culture, community, and other means. It is normal to have a response to the climate crisis, and the psychological response should be recognised. However, it is important not to feel overwhelmed. Rather than disconnecting from the situation, we should learn to have compassion and recognise the suffering of communities affected by the climate crisis. This can drive us to take action and enhance our connection to our community by being fully present in our emotions and those of others.

Fourth: Ethical Fashion 

Featured:  Moderated by Samanta Pattinson(Cultural Sustainability Pioneer). Panelists: Liv Simpliciano (Fashion Revolution), Jennifer Drouguette Espinosa (founder and creative director of Anciela), and Skakaila Forbes-Bell (master’s degree in fashion psychology). 

The conversation revolved around the fashion industry’s impact on the climate crises and injustice and how clothing plays a psychological role in shaping our identity as individuals and our consumer decisions. The panelists presented data on the fashion industry and its production of clothing, followed by ways to detach ourselves from consumerism while having fun and increasing our creativity while enjoying fashion. The panel highlights were the insights provided on the fashion industry and the call to action for individuals to take responsibility for their consumer choices.

Final Panel: Looking through an Optimistic lens

Featured:  Moderated by Joycelyn Longdon (Cambridge University PHD Candidate and Founder of ClimateinColour). Panelists: Tamsin Edwards (Professor in Climate Change) Kalpana Arias ( Technologist, urban greening activist, gardener and food-growing educator) Daze Aghaji (Climate justice activist, artist and consultant), Fatima Ibrahim (Co Executive Director of Green New Deal UK).

In this session, the panelists highlighted good news in the fight against climate change. It is easy to forget big wins and to focus instead on disasters that have occurred worldwide as a result of climate change. However, we can find hope by avoiding oversimplified explanations of the state of climate change and to remind ourselves that positive change through meaningful solutions are happening, too. We can hold onto the hope, process, work, plans, and potential of the actions being taken to address climate change. However, we must also recognise the need to do more and act faster if we want to achieve our environmental targets. Therefore, it is crucial to acknowledge and promote the progress and good news that recognises the efforts of those working towards a better world.

Closing Conversations

The topic of ethical fashion was also the focus of an exciting and fun conversation between Billie Eilish and Maggie Baird. Billie discussed her love for thrift shopping and vintage stores and how it reflects her personality. She doesn’t feel the need to showcase brands or wear new clothes frequently. Instead, she prefers to reuse the clothes she buys and regards washing and reusing. Billie believes in the idea that we buy clothes because we like them and should use them for as long as we want.  Her style and creativity in picking her clothing while thrifting or exploring vintage stores were highlighted to disclose the message of how inspiration and personality are key to successfully picking a piece of clothing. The conversation ended with suggesting the idea of swapping or donating clothes once they are no longer needed to improve the lifespan of clothing.

During the event’s closing, Reverb discussed how they are shifting the music industry to become more sustainable through a number of means, such as using clean energy and providing plant-based food at shows to decarbonise the industry. For example, Billie Eilish’s presentation at Lollapalooza 2022 was powered largely by solar energy.

Before the roller skating session, there was a significant amount of content focused on climate action. We were fortunate to hear inspiring messages from two incredible individuals during the event: Daphne Frias, an advocate for climate and disability justice, and Grace Gibson-Snyder, a student who successfully sued the state of Montana for its failure to protect the environment. We hope that Overheated returns for a third consecutive year in 2024, and I highly recommend attending in person or watching the live stream to gain access to the valuable information they shared.

If you’re interested in learning more about climate change, please visit the topic on our system map. You can also find related subjects in that location, such as climate justice.

Don’t miss out on our latest updates! Follow us on social media and check out our Energy 101 posts for more information on climate change and clean energy.

Malick started getting involved in the energy sector when he was researching and developing project ideas implementing appropriate technologies for energy access, starting with solar energy. He worked with the Collective of Appropriate Technologies at the GRILA (Groupe de Recherche et Initiatives pour la Liberation de l’Afrique), working on documenting energy access technologies. These technologies were developed to harvest renewable energy and offer new solutions for developing communities to better their lives when they are properly integrated.

When Malick decided to shift careers focusing more on the energy sector, he found the opportunities were small. He was already an established professional in the automation sector but had difficulties leveraging his learned skills without tangible work experience. That’s why he participated in the Student Energy Career Training (SECT) program – to gain experience working on a real-world energy project, learning from experts with multiple backgrounds about project development, financing, and more. He’s grateful for working with SECT partner, Pressure Corp, for their amazing project on battery energy storage systems.

What was the best part of SECT for you?

The best part of the Student Energy Career Training Program for me were the specialized curriculum webinars and workshops. They were similar to masterclasses.

I was able to participate in most of the webinars, including the project development and financing program for which I was accepted. The program coordinators and coaches did an outstanding job of introducing us to various experts in the energy sector.

I think one of the challenges when starting in the energy sector nowadays, is piecing together the various concepts and information as it requires a multidisciplinary approach, diverse skill sets and knowledge from different fields of expertise. That’s one thing the specialized curriculum webinars and workshops have done really well for me.

It’s from this perspective that I’ve appreciated the teaching of the webinar speakers. At the end of the hour-long webinar, I was able to connect a lot of my own research on the topic but I also felt like I had developed a deeper understanding of the subject. The speakers shared more resources that helped me dive more into what I had just learned and I was able to connect with some of them on social media afterwards for more.

I learned about the electricity and gas markets, project analysis, planning and permitting. Aside from the engineering perspective of developing a project which I’m familiar with, I learnED the different stakeholders that take part in a renewable energy project, the ownership structure and risk Management, and the funding scheme that are involved when developing a renewable energy project.

One more thing that I enjoyed was learning about our speakers’ professional background. Some have transitioned to the energy sectors after years of experiences in the traditional fossil fuel sector and they were able to share the transitioning experience which was valuable because I was participating in the Student Energy Career Training Program to professionally jump into the energy sector.

How did SECT impact your career and  interest in energy?

The Student Energy Career Training program has provided me with a tangible experience working on the practicum project which I thoroughly enjoyed participating in.

The job market has its own sets of rules when applying for opportunities when you’re already an established professional. Transitioning from one sector to another is not always easy. It’s sometimes difficult to leverage the knowledge and skills you have accumulated without a tangible experience in the sector you’re looking to get into. When I was applying for opportunities, I was either asked to prove my skill sets in the sector or start at a lower rate because it’s considered my first experience in the energy sector.

Participating in the practicum project and developing solutions for the student energy career training partners – Pressure Corp, I feel more comfortable stepping into the energy sector and already I have better opportunities to look for than what I had before joining the program.

Learn about the Career Training Program and submit your application today! Applications are still open until August 31, 2023 at 23:59 PDT.

At Student Energy, we are grateful to have had another significant year with our global youth community in the energy sector, despite the challenges of the global energy crisis in 2022. The changes in businesses, governments, and investors have led to a rethinking of strategies to reduce emissions. It is inspiring to see so many young people taking action for climate change throughout the year.

Our team is thrilled to share our actions to provide youth with the necessary skills, networks, and resources to grow and succeed in the energy sector. We have launched several initiatives, including the Career Training Program, Student Energy Guided Projects, and two new research projects: the Youth Impact Framework in partnership with the Global Covenant of Mayors on Climate and Energy, and the Energy Transition Skills Project in partnership with Ørsted. We have also added 28 new Chapters, and our team has grown to 31 staff and 10 associates.

We are proud to announce that we have secured the largest single partnership between the Government of Canada and Student Energy at the Global Clean Energy Action Forum. This partnership seeks to promote youth participation in the Canadian clean energy sector through capacity-building initiatives and investment, with funding of $5.3 million.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to making even more progress in the years to come.

Read more about the Student Energy team’s exciting initiatives, achievements and actions in the report.

SE Highlights in 2022:

• 28 new Chapters added in 2022, bringing the total to 56 Chapters in 27 countries around the world
• Launched two new programs: Student Energy Guided Projects (initially named Student Energy Ventures) and Student Energy Career Training
• Grew the Student Energy team to 31 staff and 10 associates.
• Student Energy had a budget of $4,051,197.59 dollars for the year 2022, supporting  projects and initiatives geared towards youth in the energy transition.
• Announced a major partnership with the Government of Canada at the Global Clean Energy Action Forum: a $5.3-million investment, which includes $5 million from NRCAN’s Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program and a previously announced $300,000 from PrairiesCan’s Regional Innovation Ecosystems program stream As Student Energy’s largest single partnership to date, the funding will support Student Energy’s capacity-building initiatives that will promote youth participation in Canada’s clean energy sector.
• Launched two new research projects: the Youth Impact Framework in partnership with the Global Covenant of Mayors on Climate and Energy, and the Energy Transition Skills Project in partnership with Orsted
• Successfully completed the third cohort of the Student Energy Fellowship, and recruited for the fourth
• Supported the SevenGen Council to host the second SevenGen Indigenous Youth Energy Summit in Saskatoon, Canada, and supported the continuation of the ImaGENation Youth Mentorship Program in collaboration with Indigenous Clean Energy
• Led youth delegations and represented Student Energy at international spaces including the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, the Global Clean Energy Action Forum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Sustainable Energy for All Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, the Clean Cooking Forum in Accra, Ghana, New York Climate Week, the Africa Energy Forum, the European Youth Energy Forum, and more.
• Spoke at 55+ panels and media engagements live and virtually around the world

In 2021, Student Energy, the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) and the Melbourne Centre for Cities (University of Melbourne) partnered to recruit the first GCoM Youth Policy Innovation Team with the goal of driving local action on climate and energy by using the results of the Global Youth Energy Outlook research. This team of youth from nine (9) countries synthesized data from the GYEO into specific recommendations for policymakers. The team’s final report details the methodology, the final recommendations, and next steps for cities and local communities to engage with youth on energy and climate action.

Read some of their recommendations below
and the full report here!

Summary of Recommendations:

• Align climate action plans with youth expectations on how urgently cities and communities must act

• Commit to transparency and accountability mechanisms for climate action investments so that youth know these actions are creating impact and can identify where they can support

• Develop policies to promote and finance renewable energy uptake at the local level, contributing to the global vision of having renewable energy account for an average of 20.6% of the global energy mix in 2030

• Conduct more research to determine youth perspectives on what they believe local energy mixes should look like in 2030

• Incorporate the cost of carbon on people and the planet in investment decisions

• Realize the potential of youth innovation in technological advancement by funding and developing youth entrepreneurship and research

• Create initiatives and systems to compensate young people for their work on the energy transition and to welcome more young people from diverse backgrounds into the energy and climate space

• Abide by the concept of “nothing about us, without us” by implementing mechanisms such as youth councils to work with young people and facilitate co-design and co-production of knowledge on local climate action and policy development

• Support holistic climate education and literacy to empower all generations with the skills, knowledge, and values, integrating Indigenous and local knowledge, critical to climate action

• Develop open sources of data to bridge persistent knowledge gaps that result in low community support for climate action

This post is a part of our ongoing #Energy101 social media series. We create accompanying blog posts alongside our social media posts for accessibility, to provide additional information, and to link our sources. Check out the series on Instagram @studentenergy, and on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

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Global electricity demand is growing faster than renewable energy supply

Although global renewable energy capacity is increasing rapidly each year, demand for electricity is rising even faster. In fact, more electricity from fossil fuels was used in 2020 than in 2015, when the Paris Agreement was signed. Demand for coal is set to rise by 4.5% this year to meet growing electricity demand.

Ensuring renewable energy benefits communities that lack energy access.

Despite overall increased energy supply in the world, nearly 800 million people globally are still without access to reliable electricity, which means that growing demand is often uneven around the world. There is a need to ensure that an increase in clean energy supply actually means increased energy access.

Renewable energy faces mineral shortages and serious environmental and ethical concerns around mining.

Reaching the goals of the Paris Agreement would result in four times more minerals for clean energy technologies by 2040. Reaching net-zero globally by 2050, would require six times more minerals than are used today.

Supply chains for cobalt and rare earth minerals have a long history of exploitation and human rights abuses, while indigenous communities globally continue to resist hugely damaging mining projects.

While expanding our renewable energy capacity remains an urgent priority, we also need to tackle some of the enormous challenges in the sector, to ensure the transition is just and equitable. 

Sources

https://www.iea.org/news/global-electricity-demand-is-growing-faster-than-renewables-driving-strong-increase-in-generation-from-fossil-fuels

https://www.theverge.com/22858437/2021-mining-critical-minerals-clean-energy-renewables-climate-change

https://www.ehn.org/energy-justice-2655379074.html

https://www.sciencepolicyjournal.org/article_1038126_jspg180306.html

While there is a lot to be excited about and while accelerating the transition to renewable energy is still an urgent priority, we have to also keep in mind the valid concerns related to renewable energy – check out a related post: Exploring Concerns About Renewable Energy.

This post is a part of our ongoing #Energy101 social media series. We create accompanying blog posts alongside our social media posts for accessibility, to provide additional information, and to link our sources. Check out the series on Instagram @studentenergy, and on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Want to share this post? Click on the image!

 

Myth 1: Renewable energy is too expensive

Why this is false: The cost of renewable energy has dropped in price in the last 10 years, with the price of solar alone falling 89% in a decade. Prices have fallen so low, quickly, that on-shore wind turbines and large-scale solar power are often cheaper or comparable to conventional fossil fuel and non-renewable sources – and that is largely without the subsidies and incentives that the fossil fuel industry has received for decades.

Did you know?

 According to a 2020 report by IRENA, renewables are now the cheapest sources of electricity globally. This milestone presents countries that are heavily reliant on coal as a cheap source of power to increase the pace of their transition while reducing electricity costs and meeting energy needs.

Myth 2: Renewable energy can’t deliver when there isn’t sunshine or wind, making the grid unreliable

Why this is false: Yes, solar and wind energy are intermittent – but this doesn’t necessarily have to make the energy grid unreliable. Even with fossil fuel sources, electricity grids must be designed to manage variability and maintain a balance between generation and demand. Here are some ways to manage intermittency:

1. Using a diverse combination of renewable energy sources so that one can step in for another when needed
2. Advances in energy storage — battery storage technology is improving, and costs for some technologies like lithium-ion batteries have declined by almost 90% in the past decade
3. Demand flexibility and smart demand response strategies could help eliminate steep rise and falls in energy demand throughout the course of a day and help balance supply and demand  

Energy 101 terminology: How are overall costs of electricity generation from different sources compared? Using a measure called the levelized cost of electricity or LCOE. Lazard and the Energy Information Administration are two reliable sources that make this data available.

Myth 3: Transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy will result in job losses

Why this is false: IRENA estimates global jobs in renewable energy are expected to reach 42 million by 2050, more than triple the current level, while policies advocating for energy efficiency can generate millions of additional jobs. Although there can be a net positive increase of jobs, there may also be a loss of 5 million jobs in the fossil fuel sector, which underscores a need for a just transition that ensures that new clean energy opportunities are available in the right places and accessible to those employed in the current energy sector.

The Brookings institute also found that in the United States, “workers in clean energy earn higher and more equitable wages when compared to all workers nationally”

Did you know?

According to a recent report by the African Development Bank (AFDB) and IRENA, an “integrated policy framework” built around the energy transition could unlock Africa’s vast potential, opening new sustainable energy investments and growing its economy by 6.5% by 2050. The solar sector alone could also employ 3.3 million Africans by 2050.

Sources

1. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/03/renewable-energy-myths-debunked/
2. https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2019/02/3-clean-energy-myths-debunked/
3. https://www.theverge.com/22858437/2021-mining-critical-minerals-clean-energy-renewables-climate-change
4. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/07/renewables-cheapest-energy-source/
5. https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/12/21/opinion/busting-three-renewable-energy-and-grid-myths

The mission of Somos Energía is to empower children and adolescents from rural areas of Chuquisaca, Bolivia to take action on climate change and environmental degradation through educational workshops on climate change and energy, with separate programs for young people aged 6-12, and those aged 13-17. Through a combination of audiovisual learning, mentorship, hands-on experiments, Somos Energía aims to create a culture of care and value for the local environment while building capacity for active citizenship and local climate action. Paola and Areli are also co-founders of the Student Energy Chapter at the University of San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca, in Bolivia.

Panel Host

Helen Watts – Senior Director of Global Partnership at Student Energy.

Panelist

Eduarda Zoghbi – Student Energy alumni, Columbia University MPA, Energy and Environment Candidate.

Alejandra Valdivia – Student Energy Alumni, Former president SE chapter at UTEC, Peru.

Brian Kakembo – Student Energy Board of Directors member, CEO of WEYE Clean Energy Ltd.

Mihskakwan James Harper – Vice-Chair Sponsorship at SevenGen.

Caroline Baxter Tresise – Community of Practice Facilitator, Clean and Affordable Energy at UNDP.

Highlights

Young people challenge to access finance

Challenges to accessing finance differ between the global north and the global south. In the global south such as Uganda, lack of have credit histories, bank accounts and organizational affiliation makes access to credit finance for clean energy projects difficult in the region. Access to quality education and climate education also plays a crucial role in helping create awareness of climate and energy problems and implementing ideas and solutions. Initiatives such as the Solutions Movement, Sevengen provides young people and indigenous communities with mentoring, platforms and funding to enable them to brainstorm strategies to take action, and also access funds and support for their projects.

Lack of inclusion and representation of young people in decision making

Young people aren’t only under-represented but also underestimated. There is the “youth-washing”- where organizations and institutions include youth in their work structure, making it seems they are involved with the youths – but exclude them from decision making and policies. The youths aren’t only interested in being present in the spaces but also interested in engaging in all the process which leads to policy changes. There is also a need for the youth to be prepared, organized and rally together in a unified position to amplify shared interest. There is also a need for an attitude shift across the board to allow and enable meaningful youth participation across this space.

Notable quotes

“Energy Access and meeting SDG7 is not just about getting people to access to the bare minimum—it’s about extending the same opportunities to education, employment and to platforms like this.” –Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO Seforall

“Energy and climate change complexities and jargon can be alienating and removed from indigenous young people’s realities. We shouldn’t expect indigenous youth to engage on this limited terms and rigid process—we need to connect with why they are present in the first place; a desire to help their families, honour their leaders and seek justice for their land.”–James Harper

Sometimes youth engagement takes a lot of resources and time. If you actually care about incorporating young people’s feedback and engaging a truly diverse group of youth—leaders need to commit to that. Organizing a youth council or program is not enough.”–Alejandra Valdivia

“Decision-makers need to engage with the work that youth produce, the call to actions and recommendations that youth pour so many labours into.”–Brian Kakembo

“A lot of the onus is being placed on young people – but international and government organizations also know they need to stay relevant, and they need the youth. That’s an entry point for young people, to be selective of where to contribute.”–Caroline Baxter

Click here to access the full recording of the session.

You can also check out our latest blog for a full recap of Student Energy engagements and achievements at COP26.

After 2 weeks of negotiation, let’s review some of the key announcements that came out of COP;

5 Key Announcements from COP26

From Nature-Based Solutions, fossil fuel phase-out to clean energy investments, a lot of important topics were on the table at COP26 – but what did countries actually commit to? Let’s look at 5 key areas where some announcements were made:

Coal & Fossil Fuel Funding

Over 40 countries pledged to phase out coal in a new deal, titled the Global Coal to Clean Power Transition Statement, and covering 267 GW of operating coal capacity. Notable absentees from the pledge are China and India which accounts for 54.3% and 11.6% of global coal consumption (BP’S world energy statistics) respectively. The United States which accounts for 6.1% also abstained from the deal.

Also, 20 countries including the United States, Canada and UK have pledged to stop funding fossil fuel projects abroad. The details of this deal also include oil and gas projects, making it the first of its kind. Coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel, accounts for 40% of emissions, with oil second with 32% emissions.

Deforestation

The first headline agreement from COP26 is the pledge to end deforestation by 2030. Over 100 hundred world leaders pledged to end deforestation in the Glasgow Leaders ‘Declaration of Forest and Land Use’. The pledge is backed by a $19.2bn (£14bn) in public and private funds. The over 100 signatories of the pledge represents  85% of the world forest, and some of the funding will help developing countries restore degraded land and tackle wildfire. Indigenous communities will also receive funding and support.

Methane

The Global Methane Pledge, an initiative launched by the U.S. and European Union have received significant backing from over 100 countries (representing 70% of the global economy and nearly half of anthropogenic methane emissions) to cut their methane emissions 30% by 2030. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and is 84 times more powerful at warming the climate compared to C02 over the short term. According to European Union estimates, a 30% cut in methane emissions could reduce projected warming by 0.2 degrees Celsius.

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

Prior to COP26, 140 countries (nearly 70% of Paris Agreement signatories) submitted a new or updated NDC. A notable update at COP26 was India announcement of updated climate targets. The Southeast Asia nation pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. India is the world’s third-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases and this new ambitious target will bring the country in line with other top emitters climate targets. Other notable NDCs announcement submitted closely prior to COP26 includes South Africa and Brazils updated commitment.

Climate Finance

With new pledges and commitments announced, a notable failure stands out—the non-fulfilment of world leaders to keep to their promise of making $100 billion available for developing nations. At the 2009 UN climate summit in Copenhagen, developed nations promised to provide $100 billion a year to less developed countries to help mitigate and adapt to the impact of climate change. This commitment is yet to be achieved. Some takeaways from finance at COP26 includes the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net-Zero, a deal by financial institutions to move $130 trillion of funds under control to recipient committed to net-zero pledge by 2050. Public donations from billionaires amounted to $2.5 billion with an enormous chunk ($2 billion) coming from Jeff Bezos’s Earth Fund. The Ford Foundation and Gates Foundation also made donations in agriculture research and support for indigenous rights groups, respectively. Other side events clean energy investment and donations are also reported.

How inclusive was COP26?

“The most important conversations are happening outside of COP26, both in the streets and other events and this conversation are happening between scientists, professionals, activists and organizers across the globe. Yet all the policies that can lead to actual policy changes and financial contributions are happening behind closed doors…” – Alaina Wood.

More than 30, 000 people representing over 195 countries attended the COP26. This also includes diverse high-level meetings and side events. While some, including the United Kingdom – the host of COP26 have described the event as the most inclusive COP yet, others have decried the lack of representation from developing countries that couldn’t attend due to COVID inequities and the absence of young leaders and Indigenous groups at the decision-making table.

COP26 Background

Like many UN processes, the COP process comes with a lot of acronyms and jargon – we’ve included this overview to help break down the basics:

What is COP26?

‘COP’ stands for the Conference of Parties and is the supreme governing and decision-making body responsible for monitoring and reviewing the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Each country that has signed on as a “Party” to the UNFCCC is represented at COP, which is also used to refer to the annual United Nations climate change conference, with 2021 being the 26th annual meeting. In 2015, the Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate change was adopted by 191 countries (“Parties”), as the successor to the Kyoto Protocol. Under the Paris Agreement, every country must strengthen their climate commitments every five years. Faced with looming disasters and scientific reports of the worsening climate, this makes COP26 critical.

What was the aim of COP26?

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are non-binding climate targets and commitments to reduce greenhouse emissions. Under the Paris Agreement, each country decides its goals and actions. This is sometimes insufficient, making It difficult to achieve the aspirations of the Paris accord. Besides NDCs, climate finance, mitigation and adaptation are some of the important priorities and focuses of COP26. There are also ‘sectoral agreements’, these are the ‘coalitions of the willing’ and technically are not part of COP since it isn’t an agreement among the 196 countries signature to the agreement. The sectoral agreements are focused on deforestation, climate finance, fossil fuel phase-out among others.