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Energy Research Topics: Energy in the Developing World
The ECI has launched a new China Environment and Energy Programme (October 2008).
Projects
- Governing Climate Change at Global Cities: A Case Study of Beijing
May 08- Apr 09
Understanding the roles of non-nation state actors including the municipal government, businesses, and NGOs in Beijing’s climate change governance and draw implications for national climate policy and the post-Kyoto climate regime
- Environmental Legacy of the Beijing Olympics
2008- 2009
How much have environmental initiatives contributed to the success of the Beijing Olympic Games and what legacy will these efforts have for the establishment of a sustainable urban transport system in Beijing and in other cities in China
- Governing Climate Change beyond the International Regime: City Actions in China
Sep 2008 - Aug 2009
Identifying the key factors that determine the current carbon actions taken by non-nation state actors in China, and examining the implications of these activities for developing a post-2012 climate regime that can effectively engage China.
- Energising poverty alleviation in South Africa through local services
05 - 06
Improving information on, and access to, sustainable energy services (including energy efficiency and renewables) for the poor. The project focuses on rural and peri-urban energy centres in South Africa.
Introducing ECI's Energy in the Developing World Research
A lack of access to modern energy services is one of the principal barriers to sustainable economic development in the world's poorest countries. Inefficient energy sources also contribute to climate change and increase reliance on diminishing natural resources or imported fuels, lessening energy security.
The process of economic growth has historically occurred in tandem with increased energy consumption, potentially exacerbating environmental and energy security challenges. The energy choices made can have a considerable impact on the well-being of the developing country.
The Energy in Developing Countries research at the ECI currently focuses on two dimensions of this problem:
The provision of energy services for poverty reduction and sustainable development in the developing world. The emphasis is on initiatives to lift the 2 billion people who lack access to modern or improved energy services out of poverty, and combat problems such as indoor air pollution and land degradation caused by reliance on inefficient traditional forms of energy. Sustainable energy is critical in meeting the Millennium Development Goals to halve global poverty by 2015, as safe, secure and efficient forms of energy are vital to economic activity, healthcare, education, transport, and protecting natural resources.
The energy planning challenges of developing countries’ efforts to balance the energy demands of growing economies with the needs of the poor, the local and global environment and long term energy security. In the context of the large, rapidly developing economies such as China, India and Brazil, the effects of their development need to be considered both in the context of their own national goals and their impact on the global environment and energy security. The energy planning challenges of smaller developing nations, including many in sub-Saharan Africa, are similarly complex although with lesser impacts at the global level.
The programme provides strong, neutral, evidence-based analysis of the complex issues involved, both to policy makers and practitioners as well as considered contributions to the academic debate. By working across the various disciplines the programme provides balanced analysis of the issues, recognising the influence of the main policy drivers: improving access to energy services; protecting the environment; and ensuring security of energy supplies. An underlying theme of the programme is the recognition that developing countries need to develop their own solutions, aiming to reduce, in the long-term, dependency on imported fuels, technology and expertise.
Communications
- Workshop on the environment and health in China - 29 November 2007
The Environmental Change Institute, in association with the British Inter-University China Center and the Oxford Martin School, organized a half-day workshop on China’s environment and health at the University of Oxford on 29th November 2007. The workshop offered a forum for debating the relationship between environment and public health in China from a social science perspective; examine the socio-political, cultural and economic context within which the connection between environment and health is situated, and explore solutions to the challenges of reducing poverty while simultaneously protecting people’s health.
Download the workshop on environment and health in China summary report.
- We need to limit our carbon emissions to help the poor in Africa - Phil Mann writes to the Editor of The Independent. 21.07.06
- Cooking and Carbon Expert Workshop, Generating carbon credits from cooking. November 2005, University of Oxford