Experts Opinion | The main challenges for a low carbon economy in developing countries

ByCatalina Russu

Experts Opinion | The main challenges for a low carbon economy in developing countries

In developing countries, reducing greenhouse gas emissions is often seen to be in conflict with the fight against poverty since improving the standard of living is usually associated with increased energy use. A growing number of international organizations and consultancies are involved in designing and delivering low-carbon, climate-resilient development. What main challenges do they face in the implementation of a low carbon economy in developing countries? This was the question we asked several experts in climate change.  

Daiva Matoniene, expert of environment and finance

As Vice-Minister of the Environment of Lithuania, I was responsible for the creation and implementation of a national energy efficiency program in Lithuania. The program aimed to increase energy efficiency in multi-apartment buildings and the monitored results show that 50-80% energy savings have been achieved. Based on this practical experience in Lithuania and taking into account that the specifics of developing countries must be identified, there are certain main challenges for the implementation of energy efficiency and other measures of low carbon economy. Challenges relating to political support are related to a general understanding of low carbon economy and commitment to reduce GHG emissions at the national level with the aim of addressing issues related to climate change. The technical challenges faced are associated with the control of the construction process and the identification of potential gaps and shortages throughout the renovation process. Challenges related to financial security and transparency involve the potential risk that the funds or materials for the implementation of increasing energy efficiency in building projects may be misappropriated and the projects then become suspended. 

 

 

Eduardo Ramos, governance and sustainable development specialist

“In the case of developing countries with natural resource-based economies, this transition is more complex because they generally have a greater dependence on the extractive industries than developed economies. In this respect, although the transition to low-carbon economies could entail opportunities and substantial positive impacts on climate change, potential risks and social and economic consequences for the population are also attached. For instance, once a mine is closed, the population often experiences a loss of identity and faces severe uncertainty for the future: a fear that it will not be possible to earn a living in their home territory is deep-rooted in some communities. This feeling is expressed in low self-esteem in the communities in that they do not have any control over their future. One of the most dramatic short-term and visible consequences of this is unemployment leading to and that young person having to relocate to find employment. Multi-stakeholder dialogues which involve communities, public administration and the private sector are paramount to promote joint views of sustainable development as a part of a bottom-up and top-down transition process approach.” 

 

 

Gédéon Banswe, professional in Environmental Sciences

The low carbon economy is being challenged on two front sides. Othe one hand, economists in developing countries consider pollution reduction as an expense and see few economic reasons to act unilaterally to protect and conserve the environment. On the other hand, there is a lack of optimism regarding technology with arguments that the level required to support carbon mitigation is not always available. These dimensional solutions create new problems and conflicts in other domains, among others the traditions and lifestyles of some communities that use at least 70% of natural resources. This poses a major challenge for carbon mitigation projects and programs to provide beneficiaries with balanced commercial activities to significantly reduce their dependence on services that require energy, building materials, food and other processed products or products.”  

 

 

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