Sustainability in Troubled Times
We live in times of uncertainty and global (dis)order. „Understanding global mega-trends is crucial. We live in times of multiple, evolving and mutually-reinforcing shifts“, says UN Secretary-General António Guterres. He adds: „These dynamics, of geopolitical, demographic, climatic, technological, social and economic nature, enhance threats and opportunities on an unprecedented scale.“ Therefore sustainability in troubled times is the key topic of this Sustainability Yearbook 2017, edited by macondo publishing. In the opening essay, Elmer Lenzen takes a critical look at the relationship between democracy and globalization. For decades this combination was a formula for success. Now both are experiencing troubled times. UN Global Compact founding director Georg Kell and Princeton professor Larry Diamond, who are well- known figures in this field, explain some of the reasons why in a profound interview. One reason is that today’s world is becoming more fragmented. So how can sustainability work in these times? It can work if we focus on the needs of the present without compromising the abilities of the future, says Global Compact Action Platform fellow Richard Roberts, and by utilizing the advantages of tomorrow. But doing the right thing in critical times is also a question of attitude. The entrepreneur Richard Branson and the actor Colin Firth both show in their own ways that sustainability means authenticity.
We live in times of uncertainty and global (dis)order. „Understanding global mega-trends is crucial. We live in times of multiple, evolving and mutually-reinforcing shifts“, says UN Secretary-General António Guterres. He adds: „These dynamics, of geopolitical, demographic, climatic, technological, social and economic nature, enhance threats and opportunities on an unprecedented scale.“ Therefore sustainability in troubled times is the key topic of this Sustainability Yearbook 2017, edited by macondo publishing.
In the opening essay, Elmer Lenzen takes a critical look at the relationship between democracy and globalization. For decades this combination was a formula for success. Now both are experiencing troubled times. UN Global Compact founding director Georg Kell and Princeton professor Larry Diamond, who are well- known figures in this field, explain some of the reasons why in a profound interview. One reason is that today’s world is becoming more fragmented. So how can sustainability work in these times?
It can work if we focus on the needs of the present without compromising the abilities of the future, says Global Compact Action Platform fellow Richard Roberts, and by utilizing the advantages of tomorrow. But doing the right thing in critical times is also a question of attitude. The entrepreneur Richard Branson and the actor Colin Firth both show in their own ways that sustainability means authenticity.
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
ENLIGHTENING<br />
ENTREPRENEURSHIP<br />
By Julio Eisman, ACCIONA Microenergía Foundation<br />
ACCIONA Microenergia Foundation<br />
Created <strong>in</strong> 2008, the ACCIONA Microenergia<br />
Foundation has ma<strong>in</strong>ly focused<br />
on provid<strong>in</strong>g electricity to 11,500 households<br />
<strong>in</strong> isolated rural communities <strong>in</strong><br />
Mexico and Peru that have no prospect<br />
of be<strong>in</strong>g served by the conventional<br />
distribution grid. It does this by arrang<strong>in</strong>g<br />
economically susta<strong>in</strong>able programs<br />
centered around “social microenterprises”<br />
that use solar home systems to provide a<br />
basic electricity supply that is affordable<br />
for very-low-<strong>in</strong>come users.<br />
Under the social microenterprise<br />
approach, users receive electricity from a<br />
solar home system, mak<strong>in</strong>g it affordable<br />
<strong>in</strong> relation to their <strong>in</strong>comes. The goal is<br />
for the electricity supply system to be<br />
susta<strong>in</strong>able on a free-stand<strong>in</strong>g basis by<br />
re<strong>in</strong>vest<strong>in</strong>g economic surpluses.<br />
The Foundation has been work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
Peru s<strong>in</strong>ce 2009 and <strong>in</strong> Mexico s<strong>in</strong>ce<br />
2012. Work <strong>in</strong> Peru is concentrated <strong>in</strong><br />
the Cajamarca region, where electricity<br />
is supplied to close to 4,000 homes as<br />
well as community build<strong>in</strong>gs (schools,<br />
churches, health centers, and other community<br />
centers).<br />
In addition, a pilot project is be<strong>in</strong>g developed<br />
now <strong>in</strong> the Loreto region <strong>in</strong><br />
order to test a new electricity delivery<br />
model for Amazonian communities. In<br />
Mexico, it has implemented the “Luz en<br />
Casa Oaxaca” program through a public -<br />
private partnership for development with<br />
the Oaxaca government, the Spanish<br />
Agency for International Development<br />
Cooperation (AECID), and its Mexican<br />
counterpart, thereby br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g electricity<br />
to more than 7,500 families.<br />
The Foundation is the ACCIONA<br />
Group’s vehicle to channel cooperation<br />
<strong>in</strong>itiatives to provide underserved<br />
communities with access to basic services.<br />
ACCIONA is a Spanish leader <strong>in</strong><br />
implement<strong>in</strong>g renewable energy and<br />
social <strong>in</strong>frastructure as well as water<br />
management. It falls under the scope<br />
of the UN’s Susta<strong>in</strong>able Development<br />
Goals, which <strong>in</strong>clude ensur<strong>in</strong>g “access<br />
to affordable, reliable, susta<strong>in</strong>able and<br />
modern energy for all.”<br />
68<br />
Global Compact International Yearbook 2017
Change language