In this project, the Netherlands Institute of International Relations (Clingendael), the Energy research Centre of the Netherlands, Oxford Policy Management and ClimateCare are exploring how the political economy of energy security influences the ambition and implementation of national green growth plans. The research will consider challenges and opportunities associated with institutional, business and political structures.
Local ownership and a political willingness to implement renewable energy and energy efficiency projects is of utmost importance for a long-term impact. From a global climate mitigation perspective this adds to the need for local decision takers and investors to embrace low-carbon development and also increases the potential for meaningful contributions aimed at decarbonising production processes. These circumstances provide ample opportunity for new, low-carbon infrastructure pathways.
Focussing on three countries which have all obtained middle-income status and have high projected economic growth in the coming years, this project combines a political economy analysis with a quantitative analysis of green energy pathways compared to a business as usual scenario. The project will develop a conceptual framework as a tool for identifying, framing, and communicating green growth benefits. The project involves representatives from relevant parts of government in Colombia, Indonesia and Kenya, and the analysis will inform identification of viable policy options for robust green growth trajectories for each country.
In the short term, this project will establish a base of political knowledge that will inform the ambition and achievability of green growth policy options in the energy sector in high-predicted economic growth countries. In the longer term, this may help decarbonise economic activities and for these countries to become frontrunners of a low carbon world in a similar manner way Germany, Denmark and Costa Rica has. These countries and their potential for green growth will subsequently be considered as positive examples for others to follow.