Laurence L. Delina

Strengthening the climate action movement: strategies from histories

Background: Since many governments lack the motivation to lead deep emission reduction initiatives, the climate action movement must strengthen its campaigns. Method and results: This paper offers strategies for the movement derived from historical analysis of mechanisms that achieved effective social change in the past. Common elements of climate action with past social change movements, together with some differences, are identified. Conclusion: Although technologies, strategies and tactics vary, climate action groups can agree to support a shared common goal: effective climate mitigation, that can be accomplished not only through outward-oriented tactics, but also by forms of climate activism that are prefigurative – that is, based on action within local communities. Furthermore, the diverse campaigns that take place on a variety of scales and spaces, conducted by heterogeneous groups, should be integrated by establishing national and international hubs to facilitate coordination and communication.

Asian Development Bank's support for clean energy

The Asian Development Banks (ADB) support for the development of the clean energy sector in Asia and the Pacific is examined, together with its implications for mitigating climate change. A key question is whether financing has shifted from fossil fuel projects to renewable energy and energy efficiency in the past decade (2000–2009). Financial data from the ADB – a multilateral source of significant financing in the region – are assessed, and 127 technology-deploying projects and 199 technical assistance projects are evaluated. The assessment suggests that clean energy assistance has gained momentum during the last few years, peaking in 2008, implying a considerable shift in energy investments from conventional fossil-fuel projects to clean energy. Although private sector involvement has been central to the ADBs investment policy, only 30% of funding has been channelled into this sector over the past decade. The reporting of clean energy investments has also progressed within the ADB by including renewable and energy efficiency components in conventional energy projects and other investments, which was not previously accounted for. Nevertheless, the ADB needs to address several challenges in the future, including sustaining funding for clean energy, strengthening private sector investments and improving financial reporting.

Multilateral development banking in a fragmented climate system: shifting priorities in energy finance at the Asian Development Bank

Multilateral development banks (MDBs) are increasingly supporting climate change mitigation efforts. However, little is known about how and why this role in climate finance has evolved, and how MDBs are managing this change internally. This paper addresses these questions through an analysis of energy support provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The paper maps trends in the number and monetary value of ADB energy projects and technical assistance activities, presenting descriptive statistics on five categories of energy between 2000 and 2014. The results indicate that ADB while decreased its support for fossil fuel interventions, this sector continues to enjoy substantial funding support. At the same time, support for sustainable energy projects has also increased, reflecting the Bank’s evolving priorities and providing a rough proxy for its entry into the climate finance system. These new insights enhance understanding of the changing dynamics of multilateral climate finance and its complex relationship with development finance institutions. Given their financial resources and policy influence, it is essential for MDBs to support the goals of the new global climate finance architecture. But to be considered a serious actor in the climate finance system, ADB has to revisit its policy architecture, strengthen its accounting procedures, and coordinate its efforts with those of other actors across this fragmented system.

Extreme Weather Event–Social Conflict Nexus in the Philippines

Extreme weather events (EWEs) such as intense typhoons, heavy precipitation, and prolonged drought conditions have already shown how the structures and functions of ecosystems can be easily and qui...

Correction to: Multilateral development banking in a fragmented climate finance system: shifting priorities in energy finance at the Asian Development Bank

The article title was incorrectly published in the original publication. The correct title is given in this correction.

Can Energy Democracy Thrive in a Non-democracy?

This paper argues that energy democracy could manifest in terms of public engagement at the community level, free of state intervention, government fostering, and donor support, even in locations where governments have been in flux from a democracy to a non-democracy. In currently non-democratic Thailand, for example, public engagement on community energy transitions had occurred, were sustained, and proved to be durable over time. The spaces of deliberation, created and nurtured by Thai citizens in this community, had become effective sites for navigating and negotiating the ebbs and flows of democratically organized sociotechnical energy transitions. This paper further argues that these spaces for public engagement had revealed that energy democracy is collective, cultural, consequential, co-produced, co-existent, and critical phenomenon that can be used to shore up an energy democracy framework.

Mitigating Climate Change Via Clean Energy Financing: An Assessment of the Asian Development Bank’s Mitigation Efforts in Southeast Asia

As Southeast Asia has registered an impressive economic growth in recent years, considerable stress to the environment in the form of an increasing level of emissions has also been paramount. Development failed to trickle down and energy poverty remains a significant issue in Asia. While it is important to amend the current emission trajectory and, at the same time, address issues about energy access, a colossal need to mobilize funding is necessary – a gap which multilateral development banks are expected to fill. This article explores and assesses the important role the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has in addressing these issues. Drawing on the assessment of ADB Country Strategies and the energy sector portfolio in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, the enquiry reveals, among other things, that only 42% of ADB energy financed projects contain renewable components, and that data on how ADB projects addressed on the issue of energy poverty remains unavailable. On top of the quantitative data presented, this article also presents a critical engagement of ADB’s policy environmental assumptions.