Our work is gaining traction!
As mentioned last month, we recently achieved another milestone when Energy Peace Partners was formally recognized during a session of the United Nations Security Council on climate and security, on July 24, 2020. This debate was open to all UN member states as this topic is rightfully gaining increased attention. The statement was submitted by the United Arab Emirates to the Council debate and drew specific attention to our work as follows:
…we believe in a principle of “do no harm” for Council-mandated missions. Missions should have enhanced guidance and internal controls to ensure that they are not intensifying local climate effects, such as
groundwater depletion or deforestation. Renewables should also become the first consideration for mission energy supply, with the added benefit that they are cheaper than diesel in almost all multi-year deployments and create long-term infrastructure for local communities as part of a “peace dividend.” We highlight the work of Energy Peace Partners and the International Renewable Energy Agency in this regard.
The full UAE Statement is available here. This Security Council Statement is significant for several reasons:
1) It raises the profile of renewable energy transitions in UN peace operations. The Security Council receives regular reports and briefings from the heads of UN field missions and statements from UN member states, but these typically focus on issues related to mandate implementation, such as political and security situations, peace processes, human rights, protection of civilians, etc., rather than on operational issues such as the mission sourcing of electricity. Despite the ambitious renewable energy goals of the UN Secretariat Climate Action Plan (UNSCAP), this is the first instance we know of where renewable energy in peace operations has been raised as a strategic consideration at the level of the Security Council. This statement also allows for other UN member states, including permanent Security Council members, to take note of the issue and potentially follow suit with their own formal statements. Such statements sustain attention on the issue within the UN Secretariat and provide added impetus for the Secretariat to demonstrate progress.
2) It situates the issue of UN peace operation energy sourcing as part of the broader discussion on climate and security. UN peace operations, which are mandated by the Security Council, represent more than 90% of the UN Secretariat’s carbon footprint, and more than 50% of all UN emissions. Much of this comes from these field missions’ demand for off-grid electricity as they are often deployed in regions with poor or unreliable electricity grid infrastructure. These missions typically depend on diesel generators for power. There is growing consensus that peace operations can do more to modernize their energy sources, mitigate their environmental impact, and play their part in the fight against climate change, the impacts of which are increasingly correlated with conflict and insecurity.
3) It connects the operational benefits of renewable energy for the mission with its broader peacebuilding mandate. Many peace operations are deployed in some of the most fragile, energy poor countries in the world. Renewable energy transitions allow missions to benefit from cleaner, cheaper energy sources in the short-term, while introducing “peace dividends,” i.e., the tangible benefits of peace and stability for the population at large, in the form of renewable energy infrastructure. Upon mission drawdown, these renewable energy assets can serve as the utilities of the future, supporting post-conflict reconstruction and long-term stabilization for host communities. For UN peace operations deployed in host countries, mitigating negative environmental impacts is the minimum required. Creating a positive and enduring legacy is the opportunity that deserves to be seized.
4) It recognizes our research and advocacy efforts, most notably through our Powering Peace initiative with The Stimson Center. Since 2017, Stimson and EPP have been encouraging a system-wide transition of UN field operations from diesel generators to renewable energy, both for the cost-savings and internal mission benefits, and as a way to introduce new building blocks for peace in host countries. We have published pioneering research that highlights this issue and makes the case for energy transformation. Within the UN, we have been engaging and supporting the UN Secretariat and individual UN peacekeeping operations, while working to build a coalition of supporters among UN member states, who are positioned to press for internal change. Recognizing EPP alongside IRENA helps to elevate and validate our efforts and paves the way for future progress.