Building a Framework to Understand the Energy Needs of Adaptation

Marinella Davide,Alexis Bernigaud,Enrica De Cian

doi:10.3390/su11154085

Abstract

Adaptation is a critical option to cope with climate change, as it alleviates the residual climate damages not avoided by emission reduction measures. However, adaptive actions can consume extra amounts of energy. This paper introduces a framework to identify the energy use associated with adaptation and qualifies its relevance in terms of sustainable development. A qualitative, bottom-up analysis of the policy commitments submitted in the context of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 UN Agenda for sustainable development is complemented with a review of the literature on adaptation, energy, and sustainable development. The analysis of the policy options related to vulnerability reduction in the Nationally Determined Contributions reveals a set of recurring adaptation strategies strongly associated with energy use. By linking the resulting options to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets and indicators, we show that energy-related adaptation options are all connected to at least one SDG, though the strength of the connection varies across adaptation options and SDGs. The descriptive synthesis provided in this paper sets a framework for future research aimed at assessing the energy implications of adaptation strategies, contributing to further understand the nexus between climate policy and development.

Highlights

The landmark climate deal adopted in 2015 at the 21st UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP 21) confirms the need for increased efforts to cope with the impacts of climate change [1]
There are countries with quantitative objectives, such as Antigua and Barbuda, which plans to increase seawater desalination capacity by 50% based on 2015 levels and to raise to 100% the share of electricity demand in the water sector and other essential services to be met through off-grid renewable sources
The (I)Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted under the Paris Agreement provide a unique wealth of information regarding adaptation priorities across a large number of countries

Summary

Introduction

The landmark climate deal adopted in 2015 at the 21st UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP 21) confirms the need for increased efforts to cope with the impacts of climate change [1]. Space heating and cooling allow households to maintain the desired levels of thermal comfort in their living environment, alleviating climate-related damages to health and improving wellbeing In their estimates based on United States data, Deschenes and Greenstone [11] find that daily temperature increase due to climate change will lead to a 3% rise in the overall mortality rate by the end of the century, and to a consequent growth in annual residential energy consumption by 11% (see Dell et al [12] for a review of the empirical literature on climate-related impacts). Studies suggest that—by 2050—world’s population could need up to 17% more energy in order to cope with a warmer climate across all sectors of the economy [23]

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