CONTACT TRANSITIONS TO RENEWABLE www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/igp
[email protected] ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE @instituteforglobalprosperity @glo_pro @glo__pro PROSPERITY IN LEBANON: A People-Centred Approach to Equitable Energy Supply ISBN 978-1-913041-02-1 FOREWORD New and existing models of energy delivery must recognise communities’ energy needs across Finding alternatives to energy production is crucial if various contexts, taking into account socio- we are to alter the trajectory of our planet and avert economic conditions and self-defined aspirations catastrophic climate change. This global challenge for achieving prosperity. At the Institute for needs to be addressed through context specific Global Prosperity, UCL and the RELIEF Centre, solutions if we are to limit warming to the 1.5°C we are working with communities to understand target set out in the Paris Agreement. The impacts what prosperity means for them, based on their of climate change are already being felt across the understanding and opportunities for living a economy and environment in Lebanon, a country good life. We see opportunity in community-led particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels and water decentralised energy projects across Lebanon, shortages. Yet Lebanon has a mixed response; as which are providing alternatives to pollutants signatories of the Paris Agreement, the country is and insufficient energy supply from the state. committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions Despite facing a myriad of challenges, Lebanese by up to 30% by 2030 but at the same time it is entrepreneurs in particular are providing examples searching for its first oil and gas reserves. of how future decentralised energy solutions could look and are helping achieve the government’s Public services here, already in short supply, are target of 12% renewable energy supply by 2020.