irrigation and water resources. The energy sector has also been an area of study for
political ecology and political economy, including the use of wood fuel, the wind
turbine industry and U.S. energy policy; however, other RE systems haven’t been
analysed. The existence and type of local governance structures, the level of
poverty, and population displacement due to civil wars are among the considerations important to the ‘surrounding causes, experiences, and management of
environmental problems’ (Blaikie and Brookfield 1987) that will contribute to the
debate around mainstreaming development with climate change mitigation and
adaptation.
Key ways that political ecology influences research design are through the
attention to material carbon reductions, climate impacts, renewable energy in the
structures of markets and policies and their and responses to changes.
Common Property Resources (CPR) were analyzed as an institution under
political ecology, since all the development projects evaluated were community
owned. I also used the Pressure and Release (PAR) model for the analysis of
renewable energy systems meeting climate change adaptation goals.
Research on CPR has covered topics surrounding natural resources and their
uses, including aquaculture, trade, forestry, neoliberalism, ecotourism and coastal
livelihoods. Energy use, including renewable energy, has also been studied through
a CPR approach, mainly focusing on the optimal use of finite sources.
Ostrom designed principles to determine the failure or success of CPR. As part
of the research design, I analysed whether the ‘design principles for common
property resources’ identified by Ostrom (2002) also apply to community-owned
renewable energy systems (Table 11.1).
CPR appears as a major set of institutions for managing resources. However,
agency (actions of individuals) does influence CPR’s when the CPR rules are
changed by the people/community. Political ecology has had very few studies of
renewable energy in relation to climate governance, local communities and the
actions of individuals (agency). Figure 11.1 shows the relationship between CPR
and PE.
Based on Political Ecology and CPR, I would expect that the success of projects
would be explained by:
1. Political and economic structures that secure property rights; access to
resources; equitable benefits; communal ownership and local management of
the renewable energy system; taking into account the role and impact of local
institutions and the influence of government and foreign and international donor
agencies.
2. The agency of individuals in a community and project managers who seek the
success of a project and work towards it.
3. Constraints and opportunities afforded by the physical environment, historical
background, and cultural and religious diversity.
4. Relationship with Ostrom’s rules for successful CPR management, and defined
rules, sanctions and incentives.
The evaluation for potential for adaptive capacity and adaptation to climate
hazards was carried out using the Pressure And Release (PAR) model. The PAR
190
D. Ley
political ecology and political economy, including the use of wood fuel, the wind
turbine industry and U.S. energy policy; however, other RE systems haven’t been
analysed. The existence and type of local governance structures, the level of
poverty, and population displacement due to civil wars are among the considerations important to the ‘surrounding causes, experiences, and management of
environmental problems’ (Blaikie and Brookfield 1987) that will contribute to the
debate around mainstreaming development with climate change mitigation and
adaptation.
Key ways that political ecology influences research design are through the
attention to material carbon reductions, climate impacts, renewable energy in the
structures of markets and policies and their and responses to changes.
Common Property Resources (CPR) were analyzed as an institution under
political ecology, since all the development projects evaluated were community
owned. I also used the Pressure and Release (PAR) model for the analysis of
renewable energy systems meeting climate change adaptation goals.
Research on CPR has covered topics surrounding natural resources and their
uses, including aquaculture, trade, forestry, neoliberalism, ecotourism and coastal
livelihoods. Energy use, including renewable energy, has also been studied through
a CPR approach, mainly focusing on the optimal use of finite sources.
Ostrom designed principles to determine the failure or success of CPR. As part
of the research design, I analysed whether the ‘design principles for common
property resources’ identified by Ostrom (2002) also apply to community-owned
renewable energy systems (Table 11.1).
CPR appears as a major set of institutions for managing resources. However,
agency (actions of individuals) does influence CPR’s when the CPR rules are
changed by the people/community. Political ecology has had very few studies of
renewable energy in relation to climate governance, local communities and the
actions of individuals (agency). Figure 11.1 shows the relationship between CPR
and PE.
Based on Political Ecology and CPR, I would expect that the success of projects
would be explained by:
1. Political and economic structures that secure property rights; access to
resources; equitable benefits; communal ownership and local management of
the renewable energy system; taking into account the role and impact of local
institutions and the influence of government and foreign and international donor
agencies.
2. The agency of individuals in a community and project managers who seek the
success of a project and work towards it.
3. Constraints and opportunities afforded by the physical environment, historical
background, and cultural and religious diversity.
4. Relationship with Ostrom’s rules for successful CPR management, and defined
rules, sanctions and incentives.
The evaluation for potential for adaptive capacity and adaptation to climate
hazards was carried out using the Pressure And Release (PAR) model. The PAR
190
D. Ley