Renewables done right

The fact sheet 'Renewables done right' by Friends of the Earth International advocates for a systemic shift in the energy transition to avoid replicating the extractive harms of fossil fuels. It argues that renewable energy must be treated as a common good, emphasizing energy sufficiency, community ownership, and the protection of land rights. Through case studies in India, Argentina, Palestine, and Scotland, the document illustrates the risks of large-scale corporate projects—such as land grabbing and water scarcity—and proposes alternatives like circular systems, decentralized ownership, and the implementation of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).

• Large-scale renewable energy projects can replicate the harms of the fossil fuel industry, including human rights violations, environmental destruction, and land grabbing, often sacrificing communities in the Global South.
• In India, the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar project has disrupted local livelihoods and cut off communities from their land without providing the promised employment or energy access.
• Lithium extraction in Argentina's Catamarca province for the Global North's energy transition has caused water scarcity, wildlife deaths, and community conflict, while local populations receive no energy benefits.
• Energy insecurity in Palestine is exacerbated by political instability and a fragmented grid in the West Bank that lacks high-voltage lines, hindering the integration of available solar resources.
• The Isle of Eigg in Scotland demonstrates a model of 'energy sufficiency' through a community-funded mini-grid using wind, hydro, and solar, supported by a 5kW household consumption cap to maintain system stability.
• A just transition requires a shift toward circular systems for renewable energy products, focusing on localized supply chains, repair, and recycling to reduce the need for virgin materials and minimize socio-environmental impacts.

APA

Shaw, S., & Schiffer, A. (2025). Renewables done right. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/EN-Poster-Pamphlet-rotated-1.pdf

Chicago

Shaw, Sara, and Anne Schiffer. Renewables done right. Friends of the Earth International, 2025. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/EN-Poster-Pamphlet-rotated-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Shaw |first1=Sara |last2=Schiffer |first2=Anne |title=Renewables done right |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=2025 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/EN-Poster-Pamphlet-rotated-1.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{shaw2025renewables, author = {Shaw, Sara and Schiffer, Anne}, title = {{Renewables done right}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2025}, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/EN-Poster-Pamphlet-rotated-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }