Page - (000203) - in Evaluating Climate Change Action for Sustainable Development

Chapter11 SustainableDevelopment,ClimateChange, andRenewableEnergy inRuralCentral America DeboraLey Abstract Decentralized renewable energy (DRE) projects have the potential to contribute toclimatechangemitigation,climatechangeadaptation,andsustainable development objectives. DRE systems are considered for emissions reduction or poverty alleviation purposes while their role for climate change adaptation has hardly been analysed. In termsof adaptation,DREprovides electricity that canbe used both to prepare for and recover from disasters, and to provide additional income and livelihood opportunities, thus reducing dependency on natural resources.Forexample,DREcanpowerearlywarningsystems, telecommunication systems, health clinics and potablewater systems. Although itmight be said that climate change adaptation applications of DRE systems have already been implemented, the vulnerability of these systems towards climate impacts, and the robustnessof thesesystemstoclimatic impactsareoftentimesnotevenconsidered. The assessment of 15 community-owned renewable energy projects in Guate- malaandNicaraguashowthat,undercertainconditions, renewableenergyprojects can simultaneouslymeet the triple objective of sustainable development and cli- mate change mitigation and adaptation. Research also points to specific drivers which can facilitate or hinder projects meeting their own stated objectives and, consequently, the triple objective, and their long-term functioning. These drivers include the specific background of the beneficiary community, the financing and implementing entities and the local governance structures in place. Keywords Renewable energy • Climate change mitigation • Climate change adaptation • Central America • Sustainable development • Rural electrification • Evaluation D.Ley (*) EnvironmentalChange Institute, School ofGeography and theEnvironment, University ofOxford,Oxford,UK e-mail: debbieannley@yahoo.com ©TheAuthor(s) 2017 J.I.Uitto et al. (eds.),EvaluatingClimateChangeAction for Sustainable Development,DOI10.1007/978-3-319-43702-6_11 187