CONTACT TRANSITIONS TO RENEWABLE www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/igp [email protected] ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE @instituteforglobalprosperity @glo_pro @glo__pro PROSPERITY IN : 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% supply by 2020. compounded by the influx of displaced people But more still needs to be done. from the Syrian Civil War, and Lebanon now hosts the highest percentage refugee population of any We partnered with Chatham House for this country in the world. Like the Lebanese, displaced workshop, learning from their expertise in Syrians in Lebanon living in both formal and informal decentralised energy supply for refugee populations settings are not obtaining the required electricity in as part of the Moving Energy Initiative. to operate even basic household appliances. The The workshop, Transitions to Renewable Energy inadequate energy supply has resulted in endemic and Sustainable Prosperity in Lebanon: A People- power outages; the power gap is estimated at Centred Approach to Equitable Energy Supply around 1GW, equalling three-hour cuts in Beirut and bought together Lebanese energy entrepreneurs, up to 12-hour cuts daily in other parts of the country. policy makers and donors to discuss the future of Consequently, households and businesses are energy in Lebanon. relying on self-generation through polluting private diesel generators to fill in the gaps of the supply. The wellbeing of future populations, education, health, water supply and employment opportunity Displaced people and climate change are two of are all inextricably linked to energy supply and the biggest issues imposing on Lebanon’s future are crucial for achieving prosperity. Our hope prosperity. They are also two opportunities that, is that the combined expertise and discussions if responded to through the uptake of renewable from this workshop are a first step towards future energy options, could enable the creation of a collaboration and action towards a renewable thriving economy in Lebanon. A renewable energy energy transition. As you will see in the following transition would utilise the skills of an increasing report, the combined crises of climate and migration population, the country’s natural resources, and in Lebanon need urgent action, and data on this provide energy resilience. It is not just about area is severely lacking. To set Lebanon on a changing energy patterns but creating value for sustainably prosperous trajectory, the energy supply communities by reformulating public services to must be addressed by utilising the understanding improve prosperity for all residents. and expertise of the communities themselves that are facing these crises, and those who are already benefitting from innovative, decentralised energy projects, helping set them on their own pathways to prosperity.

PROFESSOR HENRIETTA L. MOORE Founder and Director The Institute for Global Prosperity

1 2 INTRODUCTION At the Institute for Global Prosperity, UCL and RELIEF Centre, we understand prosperity to Energy is critical for creating a prosperous future include quality of life, good health, and better for Lebanon. For years, Lebanon’s sectarian opportunities for people and communities. Going politics have halted progress toward a more beyond its traditional definition, we see prosperity established renewable energy landscape. The as tying social value to economic value. There wars that have plagued the country, destroying are diverse ways to flourish and no single model much of its infrastructure and igniting the ‘brain of development. In this way, prosperity offers us drain’, have compounded this stagnation. Lebanon opportunities to engage with diversity and create also has the largest number of displaced people inclusive, sustainable change in a myriad of ways, per capita, adding to the difficulties of an already adapting to local circumstances. In the context of struggling state. Energy supply, at the macro- energy for Lebanon, which needs to be resilient, level, is unreliable, unable to meet the needs of diverse and adaptable to different contexts, this is the population and is deeply affecting its most where the potential lies. vulnerable groups. The workshop, Transitions to Renewable Energy In the face of a lack of sufficient power and and Sustainable Prosperity in Lebanon: A People- endemic power outages, alternative community Centred Approach to Equitable Energy Supply, energy projects around the country are proving an joined the research and thinking of the Institute appetite for change at the local level. The millennial for Global Prosperity, RELIEF Centre and Chatham generation in particular are finding creative House with pioneers from Lebanon’s energy ways to solve the energy crisis; as progressive, sector. Over the course of a day we discussed open-minded, and environmentally, socially and ideas, collaborations, and strategies that could technologically conscious individuals, they see help Lebanon move towards a more prosperous opportunities to develop pathways to prosperity for energy future. We found that through place-based Lebanon through a renewable energy transition. and people-centred approaches, we will be able to support models of energy delivery that meet people’s needs in context; their socio-economic conditions, their perspective and aspirations for achieving their self-defined prosperity.

3 4 PREFACE LEBANON’S ENERGY PROFILE HIGH FOSSIL FUEL IMPORT GOVERNMENT POLICIES DEPENDENCE AND THE HOPES This paper has been prepared by the Institute for FOR DOMESTIC GAS Since 2009, the Government of Lebanon (GoL) has Global Prosperity, the RELIEF Centre and Chatham “A prosperous future for Lebanon been taking steps to address these problems. The House. It is based on a discussion around the in a time of mass migration and The electricity sector is currently responsible for National Energy Efficiently Action Plan (NEEAP) was challenges and solutions to transitions to renewable a changing climate is dependent over 53% of the nation’s GHG emissions (UNDP, established in 2010; one of its targets is for Lebanon energy and sustainable prosperity in Lebanon held on a renewable energy transition, 2017). At present, the only forms of energy to access 12% of its energy from renewable sources at a workshop at Chatham House in London on 29 produced within Lebanon come from renewable by 2020 and 30% by 2030 through a number of January 2019. inextricably linked to public services. initiatives and actions implemented at the national This complex intersection means sources, including solar water heaters and hydroelectric power plants (UN ESCWA, 2018). level. GoL then signed up to the UN Sustainable The workshop brought together strategic planners, that a dependable energy supply Otherwise, Lebanon relies on imported fossil fuels Development Goals in 2015, and a year later, the scholars, and energy practitioners to discuss the would improve the wellbeing, (fuel oil and diesel) for 98% of its total energy Lebanese Centre for Energy Conservation (LCEC) development of a research agenda around people- employability, safety, health and supply and provision (OECD/IEA, 2014). This developed the National Renewable Energy Action centred approaches to equitable energy supply dependence has significant environmental and Plan (NREAP). To prevent further deterioration of in Lebanon. The aim was to generate discussions education of residents of Lebanon political consequences, as the country’s economy the humanitarian situation caused by the Syrian around alternative choices to traditional top- leading to a better quality of life, is vulnerable to fluctuating oil prices, exacerbated conflict, the Lebanese Crisis Response Plan 2017 - down structural reforms, particularly in view of the as well as laying the ground for by regional unrest (UN ESCWA, 2018). Currently, 2020 was also put into place. It was noted that the evolving crisis response and resilience approach. sustainable prosperity for all.” the Government of Lebanon hopes to discover implementation of this programme is challenging, and exploit offshore gas deposits, chiefly for use in given the institutional and legal frameworks in place This research is being undertaken as part of the domestic power. Whilst domestic gas could in theory with respect to the energy sector in Lebanon. Institute for Global Prosperity’s work on environment reduce import dependence and emissions, there are and energy and the RELIEF Centre’s work on DILAPIDATED INFRASTRUCTURE AND The 12% by 2020 commitment is both a challenge questions over the extent to which this should be Inclusive Growth and Vital Cities, in partnership with and a source of pride for Lebanon. However, the DIESEL DEPENDENCE invested in and relied upon given other competitive the Moving Energy Initiative (MEI) – an international ability to measure progress towards this objective is opportunities and the global decarbonization drive. partnership including Chatham House that began The electricity infrastructure in Lebanon suffered difficult due to a lack of national data. Some in 2015 to promote sustainable energy delivery in significant damage during the civil war of 1975-90, benchmarks have been set by the NREAP, using situations of forced displacement. and the grid has not yet been restored nearly thirty THE CURRENT STATE OF ENERGY 2010 as a baseline, and 2020 as a target. Reaching years later. This has led to endemic power outages SUPPLY & ACCESS: OPTIONS AND 30% by 2030 will be a challenge, and the LCEC has The Institute for Global Prosperity, Chatham House caused by a significant gap between the power emphasised the importance of the involvement and and the RELIEF Centre hope that this paper will supply and demand. This gap cannot be met by the PROPOSED PLANS FOR ALTERNATIVE leadership of the EDL in the development of inform future bottom-up interventions that have an country’s main electricity producer, Electricité du SOURCES renewable energy in Lebanon. impact on sustainable future prosperity for Lebanon. Liban (EDL), who hold a monopoly of energy supply in Lebanon, alone. There is an estimated 1GW power The workshop began with an overview of the role of All quotes are taken directly from participants of the shortage in Lebanon, equalling three-hour cuts in energy in a nation’s socio-economic development “In the Lebanese context, electricity is workshop. Beirut and up to 12-hour cuts daily in other parts of and highlighted that diversifying the has a humanitarian need, directly linked the country (Dziadosz, May 2, 2018). become of increasing importance for a number of Arab nations, including Lebanon. Given the rising to the provision of vital services and, BACKGROUND This has resulted in residents relying on their market prices for oil and gas, coupled with the to a large extent, to security and own methods of electricity generation through increase in energy demand from urbanising modern social stability.” Addressing today’s global energy challenge is an expensive, private diesel generators which societies, these nations are turning to sustainable essential part of creating pathways to prosperity are extremely damaging for both the health of energy alternatives as part of their incremental  Lebanon Crisis Response Plan 2017-2020 and securing sustainable livelihoods. Increasing populations and the environment in Lebanon. energy supply. Yet, Lebanon depends almost rates of migration, climate change, and ageing entirely on fossil fuel for its domestic energy supply and damaged infrastructure are adding significant and is looking for its first oil and gas reserves. pressures to already struggling economies like Lebanon. Here, plans to make a national transition to sustainable energy access will only be successful if they work for people, taking into account the manifold challenges of the current system. It is time to pool local and international expertise and resources to find and implement sustainable solutions in this area that also create economic and entrepreneurship opportunities to address environmental challenges and secure sustainable livelihoods in the process.

5 6 Given that Lebanon is a net importer of oil and ENERGY EQUITY, JUSTICE AND included in a shift to renewable energy? Or were all its thermal power plants use fuel oil, it was “Water is extremely expensive in THE PROVISION OF MODERN they part of the problem that needed to be pushed discussed that the country would benefit from out? Participants held conflicting views on this issue. Lebanon and the energy that goes ENERGY SERVICES TO introducing natural gas into its energy mix, firstly towards making water available is though importing and later through its own potential VULNERABLE POPULATIONS In the face of a complex and often highly localised resources. Companies are currently exploring for a major issue.” and personalised energy mix, it will be challenging gas offshore, given the discovery of the Leviathan This session focused on the transitions to not only to create a consistent and regulated mode gas field in neighbouring countries. However, it was renewable energy for vulnerable communities living of electricity supply for communities, but to also in urban areas. argued that using any gas found will not be possible OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION convince citizens that it will be reliable and worth in Lebanon without the right policy environment, choosing. and success would require significantly more It was suggested that, moving forward, a LOCAL CHALLENGES & INEQUALITIES political support and financial resources than is combination of both regional and international OF ACCESS currently available. In addition, whilst delivering collaborations will need to continue and grow in “Some communities add salt to lower emissions than oil fuels, a dependency on gas order to address the energy needs of Lebanon. This discussion highlighted that energy provision on electricity meters to be able to a national scale in Lebanon is uneven and reflects a would still aggravate pollution, making achieving mediate their electricity readings. the country’s sustainability targets even more Opportunities to capitalise on foreign aid could be multitude of socio-cultural divisions and inequity problematic. sought in order to build essential infrastructure for within Lebanese society. It was noted that it may not Little is done, or can be done, by sustainable energy, and more work needs to be be possible to develop a renewable energy the government to regulate this.” One of the main challenges would be to secure the done to open up the private sector to renewable structure that is able to consistently provide investment for the necessary infrastructure to bring energy. However, the overarching legal and electricity across the country; disparities in the gas onshore and deploy it within the power regulatory systems need to be in place in order to economic geography across Lebanon, combined In addition, participants voiced the concern that sector without a reliable export revenue stream. do this. with a shifting socio-political environment, make t communities might not understand the implications Most agreed that commercial production, if a his challenging. of transitioning to renewable energy and how it discovery is made, was unlikely before 2025. One The Lebanese parliament issued in 2002 the law would affect them, and whether it would be able to argued: 462 comprising the appointment of an electricity meet their expectations. It is not yet clear whether regulatory authority which would grant licenses “Many Palestinian informal renewable interventions in Lebanon will result in a reduction in energy bills, as use of electricity for power production, and enabling the Council of settlements in Lebanon receive “While many countries are divesting Ministers to perform this task for a period of two may go up. It should be coupled with efficiency far less energy than other areas of interventions and improving energy literacy from fossil fuels, further exploration years. However, the law was not implemented, and another law, 288, was issued in 2014 extending the the country. For example, Shatila within Lebanese communities, as this would help by Lebanon is financially and authority of the Council of Ministers for two years. In [a refugee camp] is connected to empower communities to understand the benefits environmentally reckless. Should 2015, the parliament passed the law 54, extending the Mount Lebanon network, which and challenges of the energy system they rely on they continue to focus on fossil fuel that period until 2018. As the law expired Lebanon already, as well as how this impacts upon energy is reliable in some places, but has provision within the country as whole. development and infrastructure currently lacks a regulatory authority, and no entity far less access to energy than has the authority to grant licenses. instead of reaping the advantages neighbouring areas.” This would enable Lebanese citizens to see how that renewable technology and It was highlighted that to establish a sustainable and their existing energy provision could be made more circular economy systems offer, they modern energy supply, it is unlikely that the focus efficient, as well as opening them up to ideas risk being burdened with higher will be on just one source of energy. Lebanon’s entrenched “diesel dependency” was around alternative power sources. In addition, it costs to the economy and damages discussed in detail. There is a broad, complex and would help to create a culture where, if individuals at times exploitative web of stakeholders who are in part responsible for managing their own from climate change.” Lastly, given the significant past and present events in Lebanon, from civil war to mass displacement, it own and depend upon diesel generators; from the energy provision, they are encouraged to maintain was highlighted that an approach towards energy government and mafia to local communities. Despite and develop the parts they play in it. It was focusing on resilience in the face of stress has this, they are widely used. One participant made suggested that municipal authorities would be well It was argued that as energy has far reaching arisen - yet the country now needs to look beyond the point that there is a tendency for communities placed to take a bigger role in renewable impacts for other sectors, we should think about resilience and crisis management and towards to feel safer relying on multiple sources of energy community energy initiatives. how to link it with water and solid household waste, growth and prosperity. rather than one in case of power failure. As a result, for instance. More community scale or mobile water communities have sought out their own alternatives, treatment plants using solar power was suggested generated at the local level. This opened up the “We could use online courses or as one solution. discussion to consider how personalised forms MOOCs to promote energy literacy of energy and diesel generators might introduce at the municipal level.” opportunities for a new, more decentralised energy mix in Lebanon, and which stakeholders would need to be involved in this. Could private generators be

7 8 INNOVATION AND HARNESSING It was emphasised that local communities have It was highlighted that, like Lebanon, Jordan relies FINANCING THE RENEWABLE ENERGY PARTNERSHIPS a major role to play and have the ability to fill on imports for around 95% of its fuel needs and TRANSITION & FINDING BUSINESS in the gap in enhancing sustainability, equity, has also witnessed a sharp rise in power demand justice and reliability of energy in Lebanon. Thus, due to the refugee communities, some 80 per ALTERNATIVES & COMMUNITY There is already a lot of innovation taking place in RENEWABLES TO ACCELERATE A Lebanon’s entrepreneurial sector around energy developing effective partnerships at a local level, cent of which are based outside camps. Jordan is provision and generators, as well as a range of and harnessing and empowering local communities, relying heavily on humanitarian and development RENEWABLE ENERGY TRANSITION ideas on what more could be done - possible in is key. People-powered initiatives and community- aid to achieve both its sustainable energy access & EQUITABLE ENERGY SUPPLY large part because of entrepreneurs’ extensive led activities are, and will continue, making the goals and its urban development goals, which is knowledge of electricity. Yet, it was noted that difference in the electricity sector in Lebanon and limiting for a number of reasons; the funding for This session focused on the financial opportunities entrepreneurs are restricted by practical and basic in any other country with a similar political structure, many humanitarian aid projects is often time-limited, and barriers for renewable energy projects in limitations, including the tools and resources they financial standing and bureaucratic profile. making many projects financially unsustainable. In Lebanon, and the importance of the financial have at their disposal, in addition to geographical addition, the time it takes to approve building in sector in mobilising a renewable energy transition and socio-political limitations like land ownership. Whilst the costs of individual solar systems were Jordan often delays progress further. in the country. Opportunities are changing, as Thus, while pioneering, ideas for new energy prohibitive for householders, the case was made economic impacts and financial returns are more systems can be unrealistic, or not easily replicated for community scale renewable power which would The Moving Energy Initiative’s work on hospital widely understood and realised. It was noted or distributed. It was suggested that a mapping bring capital costs down by half and may be able to solarisation shed light on the potential for a that increasing private investment in renewable system identifying the effectiveness of local be paid back at lower rates that current diesel bills. shift to sustainable government financed diesel energy and energy efficiency projects stimulated authorities would help aid our understanding of why The potential for distributed projects to eventually displacement if the ministries overseeing public by renewable finance mechanisms could provide innovations are possible in some areas of Lebanon be grid connected and help to augment Lebanon’s buildings were willing to collaborate and receive cross-cutting opportunities for the economy and for and not others. national system with excess power was also tabled. technical support to be able to procure from the creation of sustainable livelihoods. Increasing the private sector. Savings could potentially be this interest could be beneficial for communities as It was agreed that there is traction for digitising the channelled to improve health and education well as private investors. energy market in Lebanon, whether it is in terms of facilities, helping to better serve both local “Distributed energy is what is payment or dissemination methods. Virtual net- and refugee populations. The need to think The importance of considering both centralised working in Lebanon. We have metering, for example, could be a very effective way holistically and take into account the benefits and decentralised energy markets was a key focus a structural problem with the of disseminating and replicating energy created by to health and community cohesion of energy of the discussion. It was suggested that in order to on-grid system, and this avoids the generators across the country. It was also noted that projects was highlighted by the example of the fund all aspects of an informal market, it needs to be problem by staying outside of those we could be making more of the potential of mobile work incorporating solar with renewable building legalised. Existing attempts to legalise the informal renewable energy sources that could be moved techniques in the Green Affordable Homes project structures. While the government energy market in Lebanon were highlighted. The around in response to help communities affected by in Jordan, which also upskilled local construction question as to how best to leverage the existing sorts itself out in terms of storage displacement. workers, incorporated refugees and reduced informal market, until it is legalised, was raised. The and regulation – distributed power householder stress. feasibility and problematic nature of integrating is the way forward.” illegal generators into the existing energy sector INTEGRATING RENEWABLE ENERGY was also discussed. TECHNOLOGY: LESSONS LEARNED “Energy access in countries There are already initiatives that are making the FROM GOOD PRACTICE EXEMPLARS affected by conflict can be strongly MOBILISING A RENEWABLE ENERGY most of mobile support networks. For instance, the OF DECENTRALISED GENERATION TRANSITION: CROSS-SECTORAL EU UNDO-CEDRO 4 project (V24) for renewable influenced by political change. MICROSCALE RENEWABLE ENERGY Hospitals in the Gaza Strip, for FINANCING energy through implementation in Kabrikha, in IN THE MENA REGION the South of Lebanon, allows a community-scale example, can be severely affected While initiatives exist to promote a renewable renewable energy power plant to plug into the The discussion focused on the learnings of other by changes to energy provision energy transition in Lebanon in-country, finding separate local grid owned and operated by the countries addressing transitions to renewable in . Gaza relies on Israel and financing sustainable business alternatives to municipality when utility power is off, and allows that energy within the MENA region, focussing existing energy supplies continue to be challenging. same power to plug into the utility network when for energy, and Israel can apply particularly on Jordan. One participant, who pressure to Gaza by cutting this off. It was suggested that leveraging Lebanon’s national power is available. existing grid will help support the development of has worked extensively across countries here, As a result, many hospitals in Gaza observed that although there is a lot to be learnt its renewables market, but this will not be possible This project has the potential to allow community- from neighbouring countries in this area, dialogue now depend upon distributed without incentivising developers. Understanding led initiatives to fill the gap in power generation; can fail between them because of a tendency energy supplies.” their interests is therefore essential; this extends however, it is essential to first empower towards inward reflection. Establishing working beyond energy specifically and also includes other communities and equip them with the skills and support groups that encourage knowledge sharing industries like construction, as new buildings will knowledge they need to create solutions. and effective partnerships could help externalise need to be designed to include and encourage the learnings and knowledge from previous projects. use of renewable energy, for example. Financing a transportation network could also help provide a “Giving power to the people is what wider infrastructure that would enable renewable gets power to the people.” energy mechanisms to flourish.

9 10 INVESTMENT A PEOPLE-CENTRED PROSPEROUS “Although not always permissible, FUTURE: POLICY, RESEARCH AND There was a discussion around the role of the reasons behind why some are INTERVENTION IDEAS FOR GREATER the banking sector and their involvement with inclined to steal energy are complex. renewable energy projects, with a focus on RENEWABLE EQUITABLE ENERGY regulations around funding for publicly and For example, some in Lebanon have SUPPLY AND TRANSITION IN THE privately-owned projects. The question of incentives applied for electricity meters and CONTEXT OF MASS DISPLACEMENT for banks and individuals to invest was also raised, will not receive them for over a year. whether it be in the form of equity or return on During this time, they are forced to This session focused on generating new ideas on investment. steal electricity as a replacement. how to provide an equitable energy supply in the face of displacement crises. Examples of co-owned, small-scale, local-led If we plan to increase energy renewable energy initiatives that engage the generation, we need to ensure we The discussion brought attention to the issues of community in their business models in Lebanon do this in a way that will not simply climate change and migration. It was highlighted already exist. It was suggested that providing credit result in further illegality.” that the influences of climate change on general lines through a network of commercial banks that social instability are intimately and inextricably give liquidity to local projects on the ground could linked, and these instabilities can play a part in help create alternative methods through which leading to mass exodus - the consequences and renewable energy systems could work. The more The discussion highlighted that a large proportion of management of which is complex. Separating these pathways and chains of investment created, the the Lebanese population is not interested in paying influences and trying to quantify them is difficult, more influence funding is likely to have on the for energy. The question of who could be brought and made all the more challenging by the chronic energy sector. on to help aid understanding of the best ways of lack of data around energy use and demand in incentivising citizens towards using renewable Lebanon, particularly for those in rural areas as well To move forward, it was noted that additional energy was raised, as was the question of how we as the urban poor living in rapidly urbanising areas investment would be needed in order to encourage engage with citizens in regard to what makes a and in informal settlements. the capacity of the renewable energy network. difference to their pocket. However, economists in Lebanon are struggling It was highlighted that the scale and increasingly to attract this. Making the case for Foreign Direct HYBRID MODELS OF OWNERSHIP protracted nature of displacement crises today Investment, for instance, is difficult; although requires new, sustainable approaches that go Lebanon is a free market economy, it is highly The idea of alternative models of ownership was beyond the once dominant model of humanitarian impacted by low governance, lack of transparency, raised, involving moving from a shareholder model relief. Collaboration across a range of sectors is key procurement, low credit ratings, the influence and to a local ownership model. It was suggested that to this in order to help produce both more reliable restrictions of local governments, and high levels of this could help redefine energy citizenship whilst and descriptive data about the relationship between debt. As a result, there is a high risk to investment encouraging more people to engage with the climate change, energy and mass displacement, and and of default. question of energy access and payment. It was to lead to effective management methods. noted that community energy is already a common BARRIERS TO ALTERNATIVE ENERGY ownership model in Lebanon, for example, through Questions around how best to include of the voices buildings collectively buying generators that they of vulnerable groups in regard to discussions on It was noted that corruption is still an issue across share, indicating that there is traction for this energy sources were raised, and it was suggested many areas of life in Lebanon - including the energy change. that we need to have a better understanding of sector. There is a lack of transparency around everyday energy usage in Lebanon. It was also decision-making processes in the country; this noted that improving understanding of how issues dislocation, coupled with movements into intangible are interconnected is key, such as how land use and economies, has increased levels of theft in Lebanon, population growth, for instance, affect each other. including individuals stealing energy as well as The discussion also highlighted the importance of those who simply do not pay their energy bills, for a paying attention to the fact that the energy crisis is range of reasons. also not strictly technical; expertise from other areas such as behavioural economics is necessary, for example, to know how best to incentivise people beyond financial considerations.

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