Interaction between wind energy, climate vulnerability, and violent conflict in Northern Kenya

Abstract

Wind energy is a key technology in efforts to decarbonize the global energy system. Generally, the exploitation of wind resources is seen as a silver bullet in the fight against climate change. Negative effects and conflict implications of wind energy projects are often dismissed as negligible. The paper aims at challenging this belief by analyzing the implications of wind energy for local communities in northern Kenya. Specifically, the paper explores how the recently completed wind park in Marsabit County affects the vulnerability of the local population to climate change and how the project influences existing and new conflict dynamics. The paper first reviews the state of knowledge on renewable energy projects in developing countries and particularly on the African continent. Second, the main results of the field research conducted between 2016 and 2018 are presented and discussed in order to draw conclusions and give policy recommendations in the final part of the paper.