The urgent need to transition United Nations peacekeeping missions towards renewable energy sources took center stage at a recent workshop convened by the Powering Peace initiative at Dartmouth College. Led by Tori Holt from the Dickey Center and featuring insights from Energy Peace Partners, the event brought together a diverse group of experts to chart a practical course for the UN’s ambitious climate goals within its peace operations. This multi-disciplinary approach included UN leaders, energy entrepreneurs, policy experts, diplomats, and financial sector professionals, all focused on converting good intentions into actionable strategies that serve not only the UN’s environmental mandates but also the needs of host nations and the populations they support.
Day One: Core Questions, Challenges, and Opportunities
The first day of the workshop, titled “Core Questions, Challenges & Opportunities for Renewable Energy in Fragile States with Peace Operations,” set the stage by exploring the fundamental issues surrounding renewable energy adoption in complex environments.
Panel I: UN Missions and Energy Access in Fragile States
Moderated by Tori Holt, Director of the John Sloan Dickey Center at Dartmouth and co-founder of Powering Peace, Panel I addressed the critical question of how UN missions can contribute to solving energy challenges in fragile states. Despite the current reliance on diesel fuel in UN operations, the panel highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance efficiency and accelerate the shift to renewable energy. Panelists shared diverse perspectives on the progress of the UN Environmental Strategy, the role of partnerships between the UN and international financial institutions (IFIs), and the experiences of senior UN mission leaders.
Jo Harvey, Chief Environment Section, UN Department of Operational Support, provided insights into the UN’s strategic environmental initiatives. Madalene O’Donnell, Senior UN-IFI Partnership Advisor, UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, elaborated on the crucial role of financial collaborations. Amb. James Swan, former Special Representative of the Secretary-General for UN Assistance Mission in Somalia, offered firsthand experience from leading UN missions in challenging contexts. Dave Mozersky, President of Energy Peace Partners, brought entrepreneurial insights focused on innovative financing mechanisms for renewable energy in conflict zones. Washikala Malango, Co-Founder & CEO of Altech Group in the Democratic Republic of Congo, provided an on-the-ground perspective from a renewable energy entrepreneur operating in a fragile state.
Panel II: Development, Climate, and Philanthropic Synergies for Renewable Energy Access
Panel II, moderated by Andrew Hyde, Director and Senior Fellow of the Powering Peace Initiative at the Stimson Center, explored the convergence of development goals, climate action, and philanthropic efforts in promoting renewable energy access in conflict-affected countries. The discussion centered on how ambitions to accelerate energy access align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and climate mitigation targets. Panelists examined the interplay between the COP process, development agendas, and philanthropic investments in countries hosting UN missions.
Minoru Takada, Team Leader (Sustainable Energy) at UN DESA, discussed the UN’s broader sustainable energy framework. Professor Tracy Bach from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business brought expertise in sustainable finance and investment. Hans Olav Ibbrek, Senior Climate Envoy for Norway, shared insights on national climate leadership and international cooperation. Ali Al Saffar, Director of Power & Climate at the Rockefeller Foundation, contributed perspectives from the philanthropic sector on driving impactful energy access initiatives.
Panel III: The Business Case for Sustainable Renewable Energy
The third panel, moderated by Sherwin Das, Managing Director at Energy Peace Partners, shifted focus to the practicalities of establishing a viable and sustainable business case for renewable energy in UN mission contexts. The discussion revolved around the roles of both the private and public sectors in this transition. Panelists explored the commercial viability and replicability of current renewable energy enterprises and identified the necessary conditions for a robust and enduring business model.
Mads Uhlin Hansen, CEO of Kube Energy, and Olusegun Odunaiya, Managing Director of Havenhill Synergy Limited, presented perspectives from private companies operating in the renewable energy sector. Ieva Indriunaite, Policy and Partnerships Manager at CAMCO, Marcus Williams, Global Head and Sector Manager at MIGA, World Bank, Stafan Rajaonarivo from the IFC, and Zafar Samadov, Program Officer at IRENA, represented public multilateral institutions and their roles in facilitating renewable energy investments.
Panel IV: Systems Review and Impact Assessment
Panel IV, again moderated by Tori Holt, adopted a systems-thinking approach to evaluate models and data related to renewable energy adoption in conflict zones. Dartmouth faculty members Professor Vikrant Vaze, Professor Erin Mayfield, and Professor Steve Peterson contributed their expertise in engineering and systems analysis to understand and communicate the potential impacts on policy, processes, decision-making, and risk management. The panel explored the systemic changes needed to ensure energy access in conflict-affected countries and how systems thinking can help stakeholders model outcomes and predict both immediate and long-term impacts of renewable energy solutions.
Day Two: Synthesis and Next Steps
Day two of the workshop focused on synthesizing the discussions from the previous day and identifying concrete next steps to advance the renewable energy transition in UN peace operations.
Panel V: The Big Idea: Building a Business Case
Moderated by April Salas from the Irving Institute, Panel V revisited the overarching question of building a compelling business case for renewable energy. Building on the diverse perspectives of UN missions, IFIs, and philanthropic organizations, the panel explored the essential components needed to create a financially viable and sustainable model. The discussion centered on enabling the private sector to offer energy as a service in conflict-affected communities, contributing to long-term peace and stability.
Anant Sundaram from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, Richard Smith, Environmental Management Advisor at the UN Department of Operational Support, Zafar Samadov from IRENA, and Ieva Indriunaite from CAMCO, continued the dialogue on financial mechanisms, policy frameworks, and private sector engagement.
Panel VI: Stock-Taking and Future Agenda
The final panel, moderated by Tori Holt and the Powering Peace team, looked ahead to the future agenda for renewable energy in UN peace operations. Panelists discussed the roadmap from UN Compacts to upcoming COP meetings and identified further opportunities for collaboration and action. The session served as a stock-taking exercise, outlining the next steps needed to translate the workshop’s insights into tangible progress.
Benedetta Bianchi, Energy Engineer at UN Operations, Eugene Chen from the Center for International Cooperation, Mark Nichols from the Stimson Center Board of Directors, Anna Rubio-Reich from the UAE Mission to the United Nations, and Madalene O’Donnell from the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, contributed to the forward-looking discussion, charting a course for future initiatives and partnerships.
Through the collaborative efforts of Tori Holt, Energy Peace Partners, and a diverse array of global experts, the Powering Peace workshop has significantly advanced the conversation around renewable energy in UN peace operations. The insights and connections forged during these two days are poised to drive practical action, accelerating the UN’s transition to clean energy and contributing to more sustainable and peaceful futures in fragile states.
