Energy

Business models for sustainable development

Business models for sustainable development aim to deliver economic, social and environmental benefits – the three pillars of sustainable development – through core business activities.

IIED's work on business models for sustainable development cuts across several areas of  research including  forestry, food and agriculture, energy and ICTs. Our research to date has identified a number of factors that contribute to the success of business models for sustainable development.

 

Sustainable utilisation of Nigeria's gas and renewable energy resources (SUNGAS)

This project aims to deliver access to modern energy services in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria via small-scale community-based initiatives.

Trends in natural resource investment in Africa

To better understand the context in which it operates, Legal Tools generates knowledge on trends, drivers and impacts in natural resource investment. Our efforts have so far focused on large-scale land acquisitions for agricultural investments, working with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and with partners in Africa.

Grievance and redress mechanisms: company-led approaches to addressing community concerns

Facilitating company-led grievance and redress mechanisms to address the environmental and social concerns of communities and other stakeholders affected by business activities.

Direct investment in the extractive industries: citizen empowerment for better governance and accountability

Empowering citizens to hold public and private sector actors to account in decisions concerning direct investment in the extractive industries ). Through our network of partners in oil-producing and mining regions of the world, we are promoting exchange of knowledge and skills to stimulate dialogue between stakeholders in extractive industries projects.
 

Energy and sustainable development

The world is facing an energy crisis with major global and local implications. Energy issues need to be addressed holistically, based on integrated models and approaches and involving multiple stakeholders. IIED's work on energy currently focuses on two key areas: governance of large-scale energy sector development (oil, gas, biofuels); and models for delivery of sustainable decentralised energy services.

Information and communications technologies for sustainable development

Focusing on the rising importance of technologies for communications, knowledge and capacity building in sustainable development.

Biofuels trade and sustainable development

The threat of global warming, high oil prices and concerns about energy security have all contributed to a renewed global interest in biofuels as a partial alternative to oil as a transport fuel. This interest is reflected in the rapid expansion of biofuel markets. But what are the implications of this expansion for sustainable development? 

Sustainable development co-operation with BP-Azerbaijan

Petroleum giant BP is the single largest foreign investor in Azerbaijan. IIED has been working in an innovative sustainable development cooperation agreement with BP's communications and external affairs team in Azerbaijan.

Extractive industries and indigenous and local communities

This area of work explores the local sustainable development implications of relations between extractive industries, communities and the state. We have a major focus on Arctic communities particularly in Russia. We also seek to facilitate communication between communities in different parts of the world who share similar experiences.

Towards good practice in the oil and gas contracting chain

In this project we are investigating the relationships between multinational oil and gas companies and their local contractors. We focus on the environmental and social performance of local contractors and the ways in which multinational oil and gas companies ensure that sustainable development principles are adhered to along the supply chain. Our analysis  focuses on two countries of the Former Soviet Union - Russia and Kazakhstan.