Elaine Morrison justsust

Elaine Morrison www.justsust.info

Community Energy – an opportunity for a just approach to sustainable development.

Applecross ENERGY MATTERS Conference | Applecross | 20 & 21 February 2014

Overview

People versus planet – which interest comes first?

Energy as a social and environmental issue.

The paradox of rural fuel poverty.

Bridging the gap – Just Sustainability.

The opportunity of community energy.


People versus Planet?

BUZZ!!! which interest comes first?


Energy is a social issue

Energy is generated to meet the demands of society.

Energy generation and supply have impacts upon society that manifest in ways that have a bigger knock on effect on everyone.

The 3 P’s The three are interconnected.


Poverty

Profit

Pollution

The paradox of rural fuel poverty.The Scottish Government definition of fuel poverty:

A household is in fuel poverty if, in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime, it would be required to spend more than 10% of its income (including Housing Benefit or Income Support for Mortgage Interest).

According to the latest Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) published November 2011, According to the latest Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) published November 2011, there were 658,000 or 28% fuel poor households in Scotland in 2010. Updated fuel poverty estimates, published alongside the SHCS and based on more recent fuel prices, suggest that fuel poverty is in excess of 35%.

Over a third (38%) of fuel poor households are not on a low income. Fuel poverty is therefore not only distinct from income poverty, but different levels of income within fuel poverty result in different ‘types’ of fuel poor households and associated energy behaviours.

There is an urban-rural dimension to the distribution pattern of the incidence of fuel poverty.


The paradox of rural fuel poverty.


24.1

53.6

42.6

57

36.8

17.7

% Households in Fuel Poverty in Scot-land by Heating Fuel Type

(Source: Consumer Focus 2011)

Mains GasLPG/Bottled GasHeating OilSolid FuelElectricityCommunal

Applecross

The paradox is how to reconcile fuel poverty with addressing climate change?

Bridging the gap – Just Sustainability

Just Sustainability: "the need to ensure a better quality of life for all, now and into the future, in a just and equitable manner, whilst living within the limits of supporting ecosystems" (Agyeman, 2003:5).

Perhaps a marriage of environmentalism (which focusses on ecological stewardship), with social justice (which priortises issues of justice, equity and human rights).


Just Sustainability approach to energy

A Just Sustainability approach to energy considers that:

1. Environmental impacts of energy developments will be distributed equally between communities and that

2. Social and economic impacts and benefits of decentralised energy developments will be distributed to address inequality between and within communities.

3. Redistribution of social, economic and environmental costs and benefits will deliver trans-generational sustainability.


The opportunity of community energy.

• Communities are best placed to identify their own solutions and approaches to local issues.

• Communities across Scotland and beyond have shown the possibilities for developing community owned and controlled renewable energy schemes.

• The technology is there, there will still be hitches in terms of consents and permits but these can be overcome, the desire to bring benefit to communities is there….

• Given the tools for the job and with support networks in place – the power is shifted to the local level and real impact can be made.

• By adopting a ‘just sustainability’ approach to community energy planning and local development – the benefits and transformative power of community energy schemes could be greater still.

• Starting here in Applecross?


NB: It should be borne in mind that not all communities have access to the requisite natural resources therefore solutions need to be found at a different scale – but Just Sustainability principles should be applied at all scales.


Peru unveils plans to use solar panels to provide electricity for 2m people (July 2013)

Jorge Merino – Peru Energy Minister

Concluding thoughts

• A transition to a renewable energy basedenergy system can deliver a cleaner, fairer, more equal society. No one claims it will be easy….

• Adopting a Just Sustainability approach to energy developments at all scales can bridge the gap between the needs of people and the limits of planet.

• Communities like Applecross can demonstrate the value of such an approach.

• Is there interest in exploring this further? What will it take? How do we build upon the work that has begun? How do we create a community and society that meets our needs (not wants) without compromising the needs of future generations?


We won’t have a society of we destroy the environment. Margaret Mead.

Many thanks for your time.


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Elaine Morrison justsust

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