NEWS & INSIGHT
OVERLOOKED IMPACT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SCHOOL : University of Auckland Business School COUNTRY : New Zealand
A new study from the University of Auckland Business School highlights some of the less discussed economic and social impacts resulting from the transition towards renewable energy. In an analysis of data collated from 32 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries between 2000 and 2021, the research found that shifts to renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, led to increased food prices and a decrease in agricultural output. In addition, it observed that these outcomes were more pronounced among nations that were more advanced in their efforts to make the switch to renewable energy. “This evidence highlights a critical challenge,” declared study co-author Emilson Silva, who is chair in energy economics at the University of Auckland Business School and director of its research centre on energy. “As the push for renewable energy intensifies, so does the pressure on vulnerable populations who bear the brunt of rising food costs.” Silva’s motivation to raise awareness of challenges in this area stemmed from learning of protests among farmers in Australia and elsewhere who
had experienced higher production costs associated with climate policies and the growth of renewable energy production. “Our findings show that the energy transition is not a neutral process and that it carries significant consequences. While going ‘green’ is essential for mitigating climate change, it must be balanced with strategies to protect those negatively impacted,” Silva reasoned. Appropriately titled Does the energy transition affect food prices and agricultural production? , the working paper is available as part of the school’s research series on the Social Sciences Research Network. It was co-authored with Luccas Attílio from the Federal University of Ouro Preto in Brazil. Founded in 2004, the University of Auckland Business School’s Energy Centre is a multi-disciplinary hub for research and education, offering a specialised energy economics course at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Its research focus, meanwhile, lies in electricity. TBD
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Ambition | SEPTEMBER 2024 | 11
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