Against this backdrop, ECG's Lead Technical Specialist and Coordinator for the Environment and Climate Cluster, Romina Cavatassi, attended two high level events related to RETs and the potential role they can play in fostering sustainable development and building resilience.
The first such event was the International Cooperation Expo (EXCO2019). Dedicated to exchanging innovative solutions provided by an array of stakeholders, EXCO2019 took place from 14-16th May at the Fiera de Roma. Specifically, Cavatassi participated in session 2 during the second day. The session, entitled Water-Energy- Food Nexus as an Integrated Approach to Sustainable Development in Africa, saw a diverse panel of development professionals and experts convene in the Italian capital to discuss the role that renewable energy can play in achieving sustainable development.
During her intervention, Cavatassi stressed the importance of energy in this regard, acting as a foundation for progress in thematic areas including gender and youth empowerment, nutrition, income generation, and climate change adaptation and mitigation. However, if synergies between renewable energy and the water and food nexus are to be maximised it is necessary to understand how these areas interlink institutionally as well as physically.
"Coordination among stakeholders, particularly at the government level, is crucial if synergies are to be capitalised on and pitfalls are to be avoided" said Cavatassi.
Cavatassi also had a word of warning in relation to the role of the private sector, declaring that checks and balances, for example in the form of appropriate fiscal policies, are often required. "Despite its potential as a vast source of investment, the objectives of the private sector often directly contradict the overarching aims of integrated water-energy-food approaches" she said.
At the second event, on 20 June 2019, Cavatassi attended the UNFCCC Technical Expert Meeting on Mitigation in Bonn, taking her place among the panel of session 1 which focused on decarbonising food production. This time, Cavatassi attempted to pinpoint the barriers preventing smallholders from embracing RETs.
"Even though appropriate RETs exist, rural dwellers are often reluctant to use them" she said. "This is down to a complex combination of factors, including off-putting investment costs, the lack of a skilled workforce and non-conducive policy landscapes among others. But primarily, people lack awareness-they just don't know about the benefits they could reap from installing and utilising these technologies".
When asked about the way forward, Cavatassi's answer was equally multi-faceted, reflecting the complex nature of the issue. In particular, she emphasised the need to level the playing field between RETs and more widely used fossil fuels. "Parties must strive towards creating a conducive environment for RETs. For example, fossil fuel subsidies must be reduced dramatically if RETs are to be an attractive alternative to fossil-fuel powered equipment. Wide-ranging efforts must be made to make smallholders aware that RETs are viable alternatives to traditional implements."