Page - (000208) - in Evaluating Climate Change Action for Sustainable Development

model, and for this research using a political ecology lens, examines the relation- ships between political and economic structures, the physical environment, and communities, to understand ‘processes that generate vulnerability’ (Wisner and Blaikie2004)andexplaindifferences inexposure, impactsandability tocopewith previous or future hazards (Eakin andLuers 2006). ThePARModel explainsdisasters as the ‘intersectionof thenatural hazardand the processes that generate vulnerability’ (Wisner and Blaikie 2004; Blaikie and Brookfield 1987;Birkmann 2006). These processes, explained in part by political ecology, are categorized as root causes, dynamic pressures and unsafe conditions, as shown in Fig. 11.2, and are based on physical, political, economic and social environments andvariables. For thisresearch, theanalysis includedtheroleofDREsystemsinimprovingthe dynamicpressuresandunsafeconditions thatdecreasevulnerabilityaswell ashow DRE systems can bemore robust in order to decrease t impact of the hazards on them, and reducing theoverall risk of the disaster. 11.3 Methodology I assessed 15 community-owned renewable energy projects in Guatemala and Nicaragua,whichwere selectedbasedongeneral andproject type specificcriteria. Root Causes Dynamic Pressures Unsafe Conditions Disaster Hazard Physical Environment: Lack of: - Dangerous - Earthquake Limited - Local institutions locations access to: - Training - Unprotected - High winds - Power - Appropriate skills buildings and (cyclone, - Structures - Local investments infrastructure hurricane, - Resources - Press freedom Risk typhoon) - Ethical standards Local economy; = in public life - Livelihoods at risk Hazard - Flooding - Low income levels X Ideology: Macro forces: Vulnerability - Volcanic - Political - Rapid population Social relations: eruption system change - Special risk groups - Economic - Rapid urbanization - Lack of local - Landslide system - Deforestation institutions - Decline in - Drought soil productivity Public actions and institutions: - Pathogens - Lack of disaster and pests preparedness - Prevalence of endemic disease Fig. 11.2 Pressure and releasemodel (Wisner andBlaikie 2004) 192 D.Ley