The promotion of megaprojects to generate renewable energy, and the exploitation of minerals required for the transition and hydrogen production, are at the centre of current debates but maintain the international division of labour. [...] Community energies promote changes to the power relations in the mainstream energy system by redefining the relationship with nature and all forms of life, focusing on local self-sufficiency and autonomy and generating new forms and uses of energy that prevent waste and misuse, as well as decentralising energy generation, and also address the problems of water scarcity and pollution, deforestation. [...] The local residents are the ones who set up and operate the systems.132 Other challenges for community energies include access to and the cost of certain materials, centralised power generation, limited knowledge dissemination, the lack of political will, government support and policies that foster and strengthen energy autonomy and decentralisation, the privatisation of services and common goods. [...] They provide examples of the creation and intergenerational transmission of knowledge, improvements to the quality of life and show that communities can re-assert their own ways of conceiving of and living in the world. [...] Furthermore, it is essential to ensure the participation and involvement of these experiences in decision-making processes for the energy system, as well as the defence and vision of the territory – one that regards food, energy and water not as separate, and develops more integrated views, pathways and policies.
- Pages
- 10
- Published in
- Netherlands
