South Africaâs experience shows how participatory sustainability models can translate climate goals into locally led action across very different contexts. This chapter synthesizes evidence from urban Tshwane and rural Limpopo to examine how community empowerment, inclusive governance, and co-creation improve resilience while advancing multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In Tshwane, collaborative planning through the Integrated Development Plan, a climate action plan to 2050, and programmes such as the Pretoria East Urban Biosphere Reserve and school-based climate initiatives combined citizen science, green infrastructure, and nature-based solutions to restore ecosystems, strengthen water and energy security, and mainstream net-zero building standards. In Limpopo, the community-led Multiple-Use Services model and the Giyani Local-Scale Climate Resilience Programme paired Indigenous knowledge with technical support to co-design low-cost water systems, deploy solar-powered boreholes and small treatment units, and build local capacity for monitoring and maintenance. A six-step participatory framework underpinned both cases, from joint problem definition through implementation and skills transfer, with Innovation Forums enabling representation of women and youth and improving accountability. Comparative analysis highlights common enablers (trusted intermediaries, transparent budgeting, citizen science, and blended finance) and barriers (fragmented mandates, uneven data, limited digital access, and funding continuity). Policy recommendations include institutionalising community-led mechanisms in municipal processes, scaling nature-based and MUS approaches where appropriate, investing in skills and open data, and creating fit-for-purpose finance that matches local capabilities. The South African lessons offer scalable, context-sensitive pathways for empowering communities to climate-proof urban and rural systems.
Sustainability and Climate Change Governance
Innovative Approaches in Technology and Social Development
Abstract This chapter addresses the emergence of energy communities in Colombia as an innovative element for the transition to a decentralized energy model. In a context marked by rising energy prices and an accelerated energy transition, these projects are a bet on sustainable energy practices and the improvement of national energy security. Energy communities also aim to democratize distributed energy sources. They face significant political and practical challenges. Energy communities are citizen-driven energy actions that involve local communities with the purpose of generating, consuming, and managing energy in a collective and decentralized way. The chapter reviews existing literature on the collective generation of energy and its existing experiences. Despite Colombiaâs ambitious target to reduce emissions by 51 per cent by 2030, significant gaps in current laws and policies hinder the integration of sustainability into distributed energy resources (DER) programs. Key issues include regulatory barriers, limited access to finance, and the need for better integration with the countryâs existing energy infrastructure. To address these challenges, various legal approaches will be analysed, drawing lessons from international experiences and proposing strategies to align incentives with the private sector and restore investor confidence. The focus is on creating an enabling regulatory framework that facilitates the growth of energy communities. Finally, the chapter highlights that energy communities have great potential to transform the Colombian energy sector, but concerted efforts are needed to address regulatory, financial, and infrastructural challenges. By aligning incentives and restoring investor confidence, energy communities can thrive as part of a new decentralized energy model in Colombia.
This study examines access to clean and sustainable energy in the city of Mbandaka, Democratic Republic of Congo. Using a mixed-method approach combining surveys of 150 households and semi-structured interviews, it highlights a strong dependence on traditional energy sources such as wood and charcoal, despite a growing adoption of solar energy. Results show that 30% of households already use solar energy for lighting, while 72% still rely on charcoal for cooking. The main barriers to energy transition are the high initial cost of equipment and the lack of information about clean technologies. The study concludes that the energy transition in Mbandaka is technically feasible and socially desirable but requires institutional support, inclusive financing mechanisms, and participatory governance. It advocates for a territorial approach based on decentralization and environmental education.
Energy Communities (ECs) have emerged as central legal instruments for decentralized renewable energy deployment across Europe; however, their long-term viability depends critically on financial sustainability mechanisms that remain inadequately understood. This study examines the economic foundations of ECs through a narrative literature review of revenue generation, cost allocation, and the capital mobilization pathways in three representative European markets (Germany, Spain, and Italy). A structured Scopus database search identified 280 peer-reviewed studies published between 2019 and 2025. Following systematic screening, 89 articles were selected for analysis through bibliometric mapping in R (Biblioshiny) and qualitative synthesis in NVivo. The analysis reveals that stable feed-in tariffs, tax incentives, and self-consumption remuneration schemes form the primary revenue mechanisms, while cost management effectiveness varies substantially across countries due to differing grid-charge structures and administrative frameworks. Capital access remains constrained for smaller communities despite hybrid financing innovations combining public grants, cooperative equity, and emerging crowdfunding mechanisms. Regulatory heterogeneity, high upfront investment requirements, and limited institutional credit availability continue to impede scalability. The findings emphasize that achieving widespread EC adoption requires harmonized policy frameworks, transparent cost-sharing arrangements, and diversified investment instruments that align local participation with national decarbonization objectives while ensuring equitable access across diverse socio-economic contexts.
Imoleayo Abraham Awodele, Molusiwa S. Ramabodu, Nathaniel Ayinde Olatunde, Iruka C. Anugwo
Africa is richly endowed with renewable energy resources, including solar, wind, and hydropower, yet the continent faces a significant energy access deficit, with over 600 million people lacking reliable electricity. Traditional fossil fuel-based energy models have proven inadequate for meeting the region's growing energy demands while posing environmental and economic challenges. This study explores the need to transcend these conventional energy paradigms by accelerating the adoption of sustainable, inclusive renewable energy systems tailored to Africa's unique context. Adopting a qualitative research approach, the study employed document analysis of policy reports, scholarly literature, and energy market trends to examine the continent's renewable energy transition. Thematic analysis identified key barriers such as limited access to financing, fragmented regulatory frameworks, and insufficient technical capacity. However, the findings also highlight transformative opportunities, including decentralized energy systems for off-grid rural communities, digital innovations, and international climate finance. The study recommends empowering community-driven energy models, adopting innovative financing mechanisms such as microcredit and crowdfunding and fostering cross-sectoral collaboration. These measures will not only expand energy access but also position Africa as a leader in global climate action, environmental sustainability, and inclusive energy innovation. Keywords: Renewable Energy Transition; Decentralized Energy Systems; Sustainable Development; Africa Energy Policy.
Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG-7) seeks universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy by 2030, yet progress remains uneven and structurally constrained. Despite declining renewable energy costs, around 685 million people lack electricity and more than 2 billion depend on traditional biomass for cooking. This review moves beyond descriptive assessments by providing a systematic, decision-oriented synthesis of SDG-7 pathways. Using a replicable PRISMA-informed protocol, it integrates peer-reviewed studies and authoritative international datasets published between 2015 and 2025. Centralized, decentralized, and hybrid energy systems are evaluated in terms of technical maturity, affordability, governance feasibility, and socio-environmental impacts. A structured barrier-to-intervention framework identifies context-specific challenges, including intermittency, financing risk, institutional capacity, infrastructure gaps, and climatic and geopolitical exposure, alongside viable technological and policy responses. Comparative case studies from India, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America explain divergent outcomes of similar technologies across institutional and market contexts, and development pathways globally.
Clean energy transitions increasingly depend on the ability of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to access capital on terms that allow them to compete with large, vertically integrated incumbents. At a macro level, clean energy finance has evolved from subsidy-heavy public funding toward blended models combining private capital, risk-sharing instruments, and performance-based incentives. These structures aim to lower the cost of capital, correct market failures, and accelerate diffusion of renewable technologies across national energy systems. However, capital markets continue to privilege scale, balance-sheet strength, and long operating histories, creating persistent financing asymmetries that disadvantage smaller firms. This study situates clean energy financing within broader frameworks of financial inclusion, industrial competitiveness, and energy market liberalization. It examines how innovative financing architectures such as blended finance vehicles, green credit guarantees, pay-as-you-save schemes, revenue-backed project finance, and aggregated procurement platforms reshape risk allocation and margin dynamics. By reducing upfront capital requirements, smoothing cash flows, and improving bankability, these models enable SMEs to price energy products and services competitively while maintaining sustainable margins. Narrowing to the national context, the analysis highlights how policy design, regulatory certainty, and domestic financial infrastructure determine whether financing innovations translate into real competitive parity. Case-informed synthesis shows that when concessional capital is strategically deployed to crowd in commercial lenders, small enterprises can achieve cost structures comparable to larger incumbents, expand market share, and drive decentralized energy adoption. The findings underscore that clean energy competition is not solely a technological challenge, but a financial architecture problem, where well-designed financing models are decisive in leveling margins and unlocking inclusive energy-led growth at national scale under diverse regulatory and macroeconomic conditions globally relevant insights.
Despite Pakistan's long-enduring chronic energy crisis, a recent surge in solar generation supplied nearly 25 % of the national electricity grid in the first quarter of 2025, broadening access and easing cost pressures. Conversely, IMF conditionality under IMF financing programs, such as tariff rebasing and a 10 % sales tax on solar imports, risk undermining these distributive gains. This study examines the interaction between solar adoption, IMF credit, and household electricity prices in shaping energy justice, using annual data from 2007 to 2024. We capture direct, mediated, and dynamic effects using time-series analysis and causal mediation models, respectively. Results show that a 1 % increase in solar generation reduces injustice by 0.142 points ( p < 0.01), with benefits most substantial in rural areas. Mediation analysis demonstrates that IMF credit alleviates injustice only when channeled through solar adoption ( β = 0.251 â SE; Sobel z = â2.47), while tariff hikes directly worsen inequality ( β = â0.399, p < 0.05) but partially induce adoption. VAR evidence reveals that price shocks immediately intensify injustice, whereas solar shocks reduce disparities gradually. Results conclude that solar energy holds great promise, but cannot single-handedly drive a just transition. Achieving equitable outcomes requires addressing policy barriers by removing regressive fiscal measures, safeguarding net-metering, dedicating IMF resources to decentralized solar projects in marginalized communities, and broadening targeted subsidies for low-income populations. A failure to implement such measures could render Pakistan's solar expansion exclusive, thereby widening inequality. ⢠Solar deployment substantially reduces distributive energy injustice in Pakistan, with a 1 % rise in solar output lowering injustice by 0.142 points. ⢠IMF credit enhances distributive energy justice only when directed toward solar investment. ⢠Household electricity prices drive energy injustice: tariff hikes intensify inequality but spur limited, inequitable solar adoption. ⢠Price shocks incur immediate and enduring distributive costs, whereas the equity benefits of solar adoption accrue gradually. ⢠Achieving an equitable transition requires embedding distributive justice in fiscal and financing frameworks.
This research investigates the barriers to effective climate finance in Bangladesh, a Least Developed Country (LDC) highly vulnerable to climate threats such as sea-level rise, cyclones, salinity intrusion, and flooding. Despite receiving a significant share of international climate funds for LDCs, Bangladesh faces persistent challenges including complex access procedures, reliance on loan-based financing, institutional limitations, and centralized governance. The study examines Bangladesh's legal and institutional frameworks, including the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) and the Climate Change Trust Act 2010, alongside constitutional and judicial environmental commitments. Findings reveal systemic issues such as limited local participation, donor-driven management, and concerns over debt sustainability. Key recommendations include shifting towards grant-based finance, expanding legal standing for environmental litigation, decentralizing fund access to local governments, and enacting a dedicated Climate Change Act. The study underscores the imperative for Bangladesh to embed climate justice within its legal and financial systems and to advocate strongly in international climate forums. This research contributes valuable insights to the global discourse on climate justice and resilience for the most vulnerable nations.
Climate adaptation policies in the Global South frequently falter due to the concentration of authority and finance at central institutional levels, which marginalizes local resilience planning. While global frameworks advocate for participation, current systems continue to privilege top-down priorities over community realities. This study proposes Climate Swaraj, a decentralized governance framework that re-conceptualizes adaptation as a political-institutional process rather than a technical intervention. Utilizing a Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) across India, Kenya, and Bangladeshâvalidated by a case study of the Meenangadi Panchayat in Keralaâthis research demonstrates that devolved governance significantly enhances resilience. Integrating resilience theory with climate justice and alternative development perspectives, the analysis argues that adaptation outcomes are a function of institutional design. The Climate Swaraj model is operationalized through five interlinked pillars: governance sovereignty, resource decentralization, localized finance, participatory planning, and ethical low-carbon development. By shifting the focus to community autonomy and ecological responsibility, this framework provides a scalable pathway for equitable and durable climate resilience in the Global South.
Social and Economic Development in India
Sustainability and Climate Change Governance
Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
The transition of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) toward decentralized rooftop solar is critical for sustainable industrial growth in emerging economies, yet commercial adoption remains sluggish despite grid parity. This study empirically investigates MSME preferences for solar financing architectures using a Choice-Based Conjoint (CBC) experiment grounded in Random Utility Theory. Primary data were collected from 100 MSMEs in Indiaâs National Capital Region, generating 1,000 discrete choice observations under strictly controlled load conditions (50â60 kW). A Conditional Logit Model was employed to estimate part-worth utilities across capital structures, tariff mechanisms, and performance risk allocation. Contradicting standard market assumptions, the aggregate choices revealed a 77.6% rejection rate of standard solar offerings. The econometric results demonstrate severe utility penalties for upfront capital and fixed repayment obligations . Crucially, the requirement for firm-assumed maintenance risk generated perfect separation , acting as an absolute barrier to adoption. However, market simulations isolating an optimized financing packageâcombining zero-upfront OPEX, pay-per-unit tariffs, and developer-assumed riskâresulted in the adoption rate increasing to 76.3%. The findings indicate that the current stagnation in commercial solar diffusion is driven primarily by suboptimal risk allocation and product mismatch, rather than a lack of underlying economic viability. To accelerate deployment, policymakers and financial institutions must pivot from capital-subsidy models toward standardizing and de-risking third-party "Energy-as-a-Service" frameworks.
This paper examines the tensions between existing infrastructure and the need for transitional change in Dutch municipal wastewater collection and treatment. In the Netherlands, sanitation is primarily managed by public actors, with local government playing a major role. The paper demonstrates how local governments navigate these tensions and are both restricted and enabled by the current infrastructure and governance arrangements. Based on interviews, literature reviews, and analyses of statistical trends, it describes five attempts at reform in Dutch sanitation from 1980 to 2020: phosphorus removal; separating stormwater from combined sewers; water cycle companies; energy factories; and decentralized sanitation. The multi-level governance system, with decentralized infrastructure and financing, allows local governments to experiment with alternative practices, develop knowledge, and employ various interactions to mainstream innovations. However, the division of tasks in Dutch sanitation governance tends to optimize sub-systems rather than the entire system. For nationwide implementation, legislation and strong central coordination are essential. Additionally, New Public Management reinforces existing infrastructure lock-in. The paper enhances our understanding of the local governmentâs role in transitional change and offers insights into how the challenges of existing infrastructure can be mitigated in pursuit of sustainable wastewater solutions.
Amid intensifying challenges of global climate change, Chinaâas the worldâs largest carbon emitter and a major manufacturing hubâoccupies a pivotal position in the global industrial green transformation. Drawing on environmental federalism theory and Chinaâs decentralized governance model, this study develops a framework of âgreen financeâlocal government competitionâindustrial green transformation.â Using panel data from 283 cities in China, we employ spatial econometrics and mediation effect models to test the dual mechanisms by which green finance promotes industrial green transformation. The findings indicate that (1) green finance promotes industrial green transformation; (2) green finance advances industrial green transformation by dismantling Chinaâs traditional local government competitionâbased development model and removing the institutional suppression arising from ârace-to-the-bottom competitionâ; (3) the effect of green finance exhibits long-run characteristics and a âbenchmarkâimitationâ pattern; (4) baseline environmental conditions strengthen the influence of green finance on industrial green transformation; (5) incorporating ecological civilization development into officialsâ performance evaluations can effectively reshape policy incentives and amplify the positive role of green finance. Thus, we propose differentiated green finance policies, the construction of a governance mechanism that integrates fiscalâfinancialâecological compensation, and the optimization of ecological civilization assessment indicators to curb campaign-style governance.
Brian R. Cook, Nicholas Harrigan, Van Touch, Kirt Hainzer ¡ 7 authors
ABSTRACT The arts are envisioned as able to help address the longstanding âimplementation gapâ between research and realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For SDG2 (Zero Hunger), Forum Theatre offers a participatory alternative to topâdown interventions, yet its impacts have not been evaluated using rigorous, mixedâmethods that are attentive to both quantitative and qualitative data, to spillover effects, or to diffusion over time. This study analyses 13 performances in Northwest Cambodia, each attended by 50â150 people, with followâup interviews conducted with 66 attendees 1 year later. Results identify a replicable impact pathway: learning correlates with onâfarm behaviour change, which is predictive of knowledgeâsharing with nonâattendees, whereas recollection alone does not. By evidencing this process, the analysis provides rare empirical proof of theatre's effectiveness as a catalyst for change. More broadly, it evidences a replicable pathway for achieving the SDGs, but one that requires moving beyond informationâtransfer models toward participatory interventions that foster dialogue, critical reflection, forum, and the collective diffusion of new practices. A short documentary and accompanying video of performances are available to illustrate the process and support others seeking to replicate or adapt the approach in different contexts.
The global REDD+ framework designed to curb greenhouse gas emissions by reducing deforestation and forest degradation has become a central pillar of international climate mitigation efforts, particularly in tropical forest nations such as Indonesia. Despite its significant potential, the implementation of REDD+ in Indonesia continues to encounter systemic barriers that undermine its effectiveness. Key challenges include fragmented and weak governance systems, inconsistent and unpredictable financial support, unresolved land tenure arrangements, and the persistent exclusion of indigenous and local communities from meaningful participation in forest management. These structural limitations diminish the capacity of REDD+ to generate measurable and sustained climate benefits. This study provides an in depth examination of the institutional, socio-political, and economic obstacles that constrain REDD+ performance in Indonesia. It argues that the current project oriented and carbon-accountingâdriven model must evolve into a more integrated governance architecture that aligns environmental conservation with livelihood security and equitable resource distribution. To strengthen REDD+ outcomes, the research advances several policy innovations, including the decentralization of forest governance, diversification of long-term financing pathways, recognition and protection of customary land rights, and systematic incorporation of local ecological knowledge. Enhanced monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems are also highlighted as essential for ensuring transparency and accountability. Insights from case studies in Central Kalimantan and West Papua further demonstrate that the durability of REDD+ initiatives hinges on community empowerment, clear land tenure arrangements, and reliable funding mechanisms. Together, these findings emphasize the urgent need to redesign REDD+ governance in Indonesia to ensure it functions not only as a climate mitigation instrument but also as a socially just and economically viable conservation strategy.
Open access
Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
As the world grapples with climate change and energy insecurity, renewable energy has emerged as a central pillar of sustainable development. However, the transition to renewables faces persistent technological, economic, policy, and social challenges. This paper explores the dual nature of renewable energyâits immense promise and its complex barriersâthrough global trends and India-focused case studies. By analyzing large-scale and decentralized renewable projects, including Bhadla, Pavagada, Rewa, and Kurnool solar parks, as well as microgrid initiatives in Dharnai and Indira Nagar, this study identifies strategic pathways for inclusive and resilient energy futures. The analysis reveals that integrated policies, innovative financing, community participation, and technological innovation are key to maximizing renewable energyâs transformative potential. Key words: climate change, energy, renewable.
Transitioning to renewable energy is thus a very important component of global efforts toward combating climate change, especially in emerging economies where energy demand is fast outpacing supply. Carbon markets have emerged as a vital financial mechanism for supporting renewable energy projects by enabling the trade of carbon credits. The following abstract discusses how carbon markets affect multi-dimensionally the financial flows of renewable energy in developing nations: attracting investment, reducing capital costs, driving technology innovation, and delivering decentralized energy. Through case studies from Kenya, India, and Brazil, the article illustrates how carbon markets have indeed served to mobilize such large-scale renewable projects as wind farms and solar installations that improve the lot of rural and underserved communities. Despite the promise of carbon markets, it still faces regulatory gaps, market volatility, high transaction costs, and limited participation from local stakeholders. This may spell out actionable solutions, such as the development of regional carbon trading systems, enhancement of voluntary carbon markets, blended finance models, and the integration of emerging economies into global carbon market initiatives within frameworks like those under the Paris Agreement. Carbon markets could have a real catalyzing role in the transition toward renewable energy, with accelerated rates of greenhouse gas emission reduction and sustainable development in emerging economies, if they are able to successfully address these tacked barriers.
This study interrogates climate governance in the Southern Africaâs socio-ecological peripheries, concentrating on how decentralized adaptation policies shape rural livelihoods confronted with deepening climate hazards. The regionâs ecosystems are worsening under climate stress, with smallholder farmers and forest-dependent communities already positioned at the social periphery bearing the brunt of more erratic precipitation and rising temperatures. The study utilized secondary materials, including peer-reviewed articles, official policy documents, and theoretical discussions on governance and adaptive responses. Data analysis was conducted through an interpretive and integrative approach, critically juxtaposing insights from distinct disciplinary repositories and constructing thematically coherent groupings. The study found that while decentralisation can enhance adaptive governance, its overall effectiveness hinges on bolstering cross-scale finance, capacity, and integration. The study further established that marginalized populations particularly women and youth continue to be underrepresented in decisional arenas, which undermines the equity of adaptation initiatives. The study concludes that decentralized climate governance can achieve transformation only when it is inclusive, sufficiently financed, and intricately linked to overarching rural development plans.
Open access
Climate change impacts on agriculture
Sustainability and Climate Change Governance
Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
The clean energy (CE) industry is rapidly expanding due to improvements in technology, policy objectives, and global interest in sustainable financing. This chapter presents important technological improvementsâincluding energy storage systems, smart grid networks, hydrogen as an energy carrier, and newer renewable sourcesâwhich have enhanced the efficiency, reliability, and attractiveness of CE investments. However, the outlook for the CE sector is robust, where the International Energy Agency predicts that by 2025 renewables will lead all net capacity additions across the globe. Furthermore, the expansion of decentralized energy systems and green finance, like green bonds, is set to provide different investment opportunities. Still, some strategic recommendations for investors include developing technological and geographical diversification, having a long-term view, being aware of policy changes, and including environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in their investment decisions to achieve sustainability objectives. Investments in CE have economic rewards, but the investments are also good for core social issues of global context in areas like clean energy, combating climate change, and innovative sustainability solutions. Toward the end of the chapter, it is suggested that to sustain continued growth within the CE sector, there has to be a continuous emphasis on technological advancement and active supportive policies, international collaboration, and a focus on inclusivity and resilience in CE initiatives.
Sub-Saharan Africa remains one of the most climate vulnerable regions globally, yet the conversion of rising inflows into measurable economic resilience has yielded modest and uneven outcomes. This study is set to examine the impact of climate finance on economic resilience in sub-Saharan Africa using a descriptive statistics and trend analysis, drawing on a quantitative secondary data from 2014 to 2024 across five countries including Rwanda, Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, and Kenya. Visual tools such as charts and graphs illustrate financial trends and sectoral allocations across agriculture, water, energy, and infrastructure. The findings of the study revealed a consistent increase in climate finance over the decade, but this has not resulted in proportional resilience gains due to weak institutional capacity, poor coordination, and sectoral imbalances. Countries with stronger governance systems, such as Rwanda and Ghana, show better resilience outcomes despite receiving comparatively lower funding, emphasizing the importance of institutional quality and policy coherence. The study concludes that climate finance is a catalyst for transformation when embedded in strategic, well governed systems aligned with national development plans. It recommends that governments and international partners prioritize sectoral diversification by channeling finance into underfunded but high impact areas like water infrastructure and decentralized energy, supported by institutional reforms that enhance absorptive capacity and financial accountability.