Keywords
Information and communication technologies (ICTs),
climate change, renewable energy, gender politics
Expertise
Sustainability and energy security are intrinsically linked
and feature right at the top of national and international
political agendas. Our expertise in the legal and socio-
economic aspects of energy supply and consumption
allow us to advise government departments and NGOs
on their macro-scale policy perspectives and initiatives.
However, energy policy quickly filters down to individuals
so we also study the impact of sustainable technologies
and policies on communities.
Working with the World Bank we explore the financial and
governance obstacles that hinder the implementation
of effective renewable energy policies; we are able to
recommend conceptual frameworks and practical
solutions on how to change energy consumption
patterns and behaviour.
Our collaborations with engineers help to build greener,
cheaper innovations for poorer and marginalised
communities. We add socioeconomic context to the
green movement, for example exploring the uneven
distribution of costs and benefits of green innovations.
We also work to promote technological interventions
that favour poorer communities or those which are
gender-sensitive.
Understanding the political context of energy and
sustainability initiatives is vital to their support and take
up. We can help to address the trade-offs between
meeting the current energy needs of poorer
communities and nations, and protecting long-term
global ecological sustainability.
We have advised governments and communities in:
--
India
--
Bangladesh
--
Ghana
--
South China
--
Ecuador
Researchers from the University of Liverpool
worked with Bangladeshi fishermen to design and
build tri-generation systems that turn unused heat
into ice so the community could preserve its fish.
Energy & Sustainability
77
5.
Political dimensions of energy security
APPLICATION AREAS
•
Energy
•
Financial and business services
•
Information and communication
technology (ICT)
•
Society and community
•
Sustainability
We promote a mutual
learning process between
developed and developing
countries. We used
community engagement
strategies in Ghana
and applied them in a
sustainable water project
in Liverpool.
