Dr. Eduardo Noboa

Achieving energy sovereignty is increasingly gaining prominence as a goal in energy politics. The aim of this paper is to provide a conceptual analysis of this principle from an ethics and social justice perspective. We rely on the literature on food sovereignty to identify through a comparative analysis the elements energy sovereignty will most likely demand and thereafter distinguish the unique constituencies of the energy sector. The idea of energy sovereignty embraces a series of values… Show more

Achieving energy sovereignty is increasingly gaining prominence as a goal in energy politics. The aim of this paper is to provide a conceptual analysis of this principle from an ethics and social justice perspective. We rely on the literature on food sovereignty to identify through a comparative analysis the elements energy sovereignty will most likely demand and thereafter distinguish the unique constituencies of the energy sector. The idea of energy sovereignty embraces a series of values, among which we identified: (i) accessibility, to allow access to everyone, (ii) empowerment and recognition, to develop and sustain capabilities to collaboratively produce solution-oriented energy system knowledge and effectively participate in governance, (iii) stewardship and sustainability, to be able to design and manage decentralised renewable systems in view of protecting the environment, (iv) self-sufficiency, to reduce the negative shocks of exploitative business practises, (v) resilience, to maintain production capacities while withstanding socioeconomic, political, environmental and climatic shocks, (vi) peace, to establish production systems that do not involve hostile relations, (vii) transparency and self-determination, to establish democratic decision-making mechanisms that give a voice to previously underrepresented groups and limit corporate takeover (viii) gender-justice, by acknowledging the contributions of women and eliminate barriers to their empowerment. With a conceptual framework of energy sovereignty, we present a rationale that draws on the key values to be considered when formulating policy solutions for the energy sector. Show less

The Applied Urban Research Agenda is a document built from a dynamic participation of 300 researchers who are all linked with higher education institutions, technical and technological colleges and other institutions in different cities across Ecuador. It prioritizes four areas of research: environmental sustainability, equity, accessibility and inclusion, prosperity and productivity, and governance.

Transition management uses the depoliticized, rational discourse of systems terms, social learning and societal reflexivity. Transdisciplinary sustainability science research similarly uses the politically neutral terms of supporting the coproduction and integration of different types of knowledge. Yet both are clearly normative, resting on notions of participatory democracy and adopting environmental and social sustainability as explicit norms. Here we present the case of a transdisciplinary… Show more

Transition management uses the depoliticized, rational discourse of systems terms, social learning and societal reflexivity. Transdisciplinary sustainability science research similarly uses the politically neutral terms of supporting the coproduction and integration of different types of knowledge. Yet both are clearly normative, resting on notions of participatory democracy and adopting environmental and social sustainability as explicit norms. Here we present the case of a transdisciplinary transition management arena in Peru, convened to develop a vision of a lower carbon, more decentralized and resilient national energy system. We show how the characteristics of the arena can help to foster the necessary conditions for empowerment and how these in turn both support – and are supported by - the ability of participants from different backgrounds generate shared problem statements, visions and strategies, building towards a coalition for change. While it remains to be seen how politically influential such arenas can be in the medium and long term, we show that depoliticized, rational sustainability discourse nonetheless has a political role to play in helping to legitimize informal institutional efforts towards energy policy change. Highlights Transition management and transdisciplinary sustainability science rationales are complementary These rationales are integrated in a Transdisciplinary Transition Management Arena (TTMA) framework The TTMA is applied with Peruvian energy system stakeholders holding marginalised views on energy futures A vision for a low carbon Peru is developed that emphasises the inclusion of distributed renewables The TTMA is assessed in terms of its capacity to support conditions for the empowerment of marginalised policy stakeholders Show less

REN21’s Renewables in Cities Global Status Report (REC) series provides an overview of the status, trends and developments of renewable energy in cities, using the most up-to-date information and data available. The REC’s neutral, fact-based approach documents in detail the annual developments in policies, markets, investments and citizen action, with a particular focus on renewables in public, residential and commercial buildings as well as public and private urban transport. This report aims… Show more

REN21’s Renewables in Cities Global Status Report (REC) series provides an overview of the status, trends and developments of renewable energy in cities, using the most up-to-date information and data available. The REC’s neutral, fact-based approach documents in detail the annual developments in policies, markets, investments and citizen action, with a particular focus on renewables in public, residential and commercial buildings as well as public and private urban transport. This report aims to inform decision makers and to create an active exchange of views and information around urban renewable energy. Show less

Sociotechnical transitions require pressure to be exerted from inside or outside of the prevailing ‘regime’, without which various path dependencies combine to maintain the status quo. Change agents including policy entrepreneurs within the regime, or civil society voices outside, can be sources of such pressure. However, in illiberal democracies or authoritarian regimes, these voices may be little heard or even suppressed. With the premise that this situation calls for protected transition… Show more

Sociotechnical transitions require pressure to be exerted from inside or outside of the prevailing ‘regime’, without which various path dependencies combine to maintain the status quo. Change agents including policy entrepreneurs within the regime, or civil society voices outside, can be sources of such pressure. However, in illiberal democracies or authoritarian regimes, these voices may be little heard or even suppressed. With the premise that this situation calls for protected transition spaces for policy development that are outside of formal institutions, so that policy windows may be taken advantage of should they arise, this paper applies a transdisciplinary transition management arena (TTMA) process (Noboa and Upham, Energy Res Soc Sci 46:114–124, 2018), whereby civil society and other stakeholders can be engaged in the envisioning of new energy futures. Show less

While the theory and practice of transition management has been articulated and tested in Europe, little work in this vein has been undertaken in illiberal democracies, where state institutions may be captured by commercial interests, clientelism may operate and democratic rights may be constrained. We argue that a combination of insights from transition management and transdisciplinary research offers a basis for developing local strategies by which informal institutions can nurture… Show more

While the theory and practice of transition management has been articulated and tested in Europe, little work in this vein has been undertaken in illiberal democracies, where state institutions may be captured by commercial interests, clientelism may operate and democratic rights may be constrained. We argue that a combination of insights from transition management and transdisciplinary research offers a basis for developing local strategies by which informal institutions can nurture alternative energy policy visions and prescriptions, in order to exploit policy windows that periodically arise. We articulate a conceptual framework to underpin such strategies, which emphasises the role of academics or other knowledge brokers as policy entrepreneurs, helping to build knowledge and capabilities, create networks of social capital and establish alternative discourse coalitions. While our particular applied interest here is in arenas for the development of low carbon energy scenarios in Latin America, the framework is also intended to have wider applicability. Show less

The Renewables 2015 Global Status Report marks the tenth report in the GSR series. Its evolution from a 35-page report to one that currently stands at over 250 pages reflects both the breadth and depth of renewable energy development over the past decade.

El objetivo del presente trabajo es exponer la importancia de implementar procesos de análisis prospectivo en el sector energético ecuatoriano, de tal manera que se genere información científicotécnica que sirva como insumo para la formulación de políticas y la toma de decisiones entorno a las inversiones requeridas para el desarrollo sostenible y soberano del sector energético en el contexto del cambio de la matriz energética y productiva.

Through the TNA, Ecuador identified waste-to-energy technologies as crucial for reducing emissions and providing energy security for the rural population. Following the TNA, Ecuador reached out to the Climate Technology Centre and Network in 2015, asking for technical assistance to implement the anaerobic digesters and other waste-to-energy technologies identified in the TNA.

A lo largo del tiempo, el desarrollo de la energía ha sido singular en cada una de las subregiones y países de Suramérica. Sin embargo, si tratamos de homologar tendencias, podríamos decir que el sector energético viene acompañando el comportamiento de la economía y atravesando barreras y desafíos comunes.