Humankind urgently needs to address climate change by dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting poor and vulnerable communities to adapt to the changes that are already taking place. The energy sector is the largest single contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, so greening the energy sector is critical to averting catastrophic climate change. However, making the necessary changes in climate and energy policies is extremely politically sensitive. The Policy Practice works with governments, development partners and non-governmental organisations to better understand the politics of energy sector reform and the political economy of climate action more broadly. This includes:
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Exploring the political economy of corruption in the energy sector and in the forestry sector
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Research on engaging the private sector in electricity in fragile contexts
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A new short online course on the Political Economy of Climate Action
Between January 2023 and the end of March 2023, TPP Director Neil McCulloch and TPP Principal Sam Bickersteth worked on a series of three rapid, Political Economy Analyses of the energy transition for the FCDO-funded Climate Compatible Growth programme in Ghana, Zambia and Vietnam.
Neil McCulloch, TPP Director, conducted an Applied Political Economy Analysis for the USAID funded Sri Lanka Energy Activity. It included an assessment of public and stakeholder sentiment with regards to the governance of Sri Lanka’s power sector, and provided a critical situational awareness for the USAID delivery unit.
Sam Bickersteth and Neil McCulloch undertook a scoping study for the Climate Compatible Growth programme to identify local administrative areas in Kenya and Zambia in which the programme's energy systems research can be applied.