Building on their recently published open access edited book Energy Transitions in Latin America (Springer, 2023), Lira Lazaro (University of São Paulo) and Esteban Serrani (National University of San Martin, Buenos Aires) will talk about some of the challenges and inequalities surrounding the transitions toward renewable energy in Latin America.
The event will take place online via Zoom. You need to complete this registration form to receive the Zoom details.
ABSTRACT
Latin America is a region with significant potential for renewable energy generation due to its abundant natural resources, including hydroelectric, biomass, solar, and wind power, as well as minerals essential for the development of clean energy technologies, such as lithium. However, the energy transition in some countries in the region has been slow due to several factors, including political instability, economic challenges, and regulatory barriers. In addition, there is often a lack of political will to support renewable energy, as some governments prioritize traditional energy sources over renewable energy. Some Latin American countries have made progress in the transition to renewable energy. Uruguay, for example, has successfully transitioned to renewable energy, with most of its electricity coming from wind and solar power. In contrast, some countries in the region are still heavily dependent on fossil fuels, particularly oil and gas. For example, Venezuela and Mexico continue to rely on oil as an important source of revenue and energy, despite the potential for renewable energy.
As the world transitions to renewable energy, it is critical to examine whether this transition will lead to a more equitable and just society in Latin America. It is important to consider how the benefits of the energy transition will be distributed so that vulnerable communities are not left behind. Will higher-income groups change their consumption patterns to adopt sustainable practices, or will growth benefit only a privileged few? For example, how can the shift to electric mobility in Latin America be used to improve public transport infrastructure and systems, rather than simply replacing private fossil fuel cars with electric ones? These questions require a complex and critical perspective that highlights emerging inequalities.
BIOS
Lira Lazaro is a researcher at the Energy Institute and Environment of the University of São Paulo. She holds a Ph.D. in Earth System Science from the National Institute of Space Research (CST-INPE), and a Master’s and Ph.D. in Latin American Integration from the University of São Paulo (USP-PROLAM).
She has been a visiting researcher at the Durham Energy Institute and the Department of Anthropology, University of Durham, United Kingdom. She is a member of the Energy and Sustainable Development Working Group of the Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO), where she coordinates two lines of research: Energy Poverty, Justice and Gender in Latin America, and Geopolitics of Energy Transition and Regional Integration.
Since 2022, she has been actively involved in research related to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Brazil, with a focus on the development of public policy agendas. Lira is co-editor of Energy Transitions in Latin America (Springer, 2023).
Esteban Serrani is a sociologist with a master’s degree in social research and a PhD in Social Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires. He is a Researcher of the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET) and a Professor at the National University of San Martin, Argentina.
He is the Director of the Project "Approaches to the Relationship between Energy Models and Industrial Policy in Argentina, 2002-2019" and “Analysis of the Performance of Large Industrial Companies in the Energy Transition in Argentina,” supported by the National Agency for the Promotion of Research, Technological Development, and Innovation. In Argentina, he is a Co-Director of the Center for Social Studies of the Economy at the Interdisciplinary School of High Social Studies, National University of San Martin.
He is the coordinator of the Energy and Sustainable Development Working Group of the Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO) and he coordinates the Energy Transition and Climate Change Working Group of the International Development Economics Associates-Latin America (IDEAs-LAC). Esteban is co-editor of Energy Transitions in Latin America (Springer, 2023).
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