Energy Communities: A Model to Strengthen Climate Resilience in Colombia

This working paper proposes using the Water-Energy-Food Nexus as a framework to implement Colombia's 2024 Energy Communities Strategy. The model aims to transition the country toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient energy system by integrating energy production with water and food security to reduce vulnerability to extreme weather events.

• Colombia's energy system is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events like El Niño and La Niña due to its heavy reliance on hydroelectric generation, which threatens energy security, water access, and food production, particularly in rural and disadvantaged areas.
• The Energy Communities Strategy, launched by the Colombian national government in 2024, seeks to establish a low-carbon energy model by allowing local authorities, businesses, and communities to collaborate on the generation, distribution, and consumption of renewable energy to increase self-sufficiency.
• The proposed model expands the scope of Energy Communities by applying the Water-Energy-Food Nexus, which treats energy, water, and food security as interdependent. This approach focuses on three design elements: community strengthening, climate integration, and the creation of community business models to ensure long-term security and nature conservation.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Energy Communities: A Model to Strengthen Climate Resilience in Colombia. https://www.wri.org/research/energy-communities-model-strengthen-climate-resilience-colombia

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Energy Communities: A Model to Strengthen Climate Resilience in Colombia. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/energy-communities-model-strengthen-climate-resilience-colombia.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Energy Communities: A Model to Strengthen Climate Resilience in Colombia |url=https://www.wri.org/research/energy-communities-model-strengthen-climate-resilience-colombia |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendenergy, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Energy Communities: A Model to Strengthen Climate Resilience in Colombia}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/energy-communities-model-strengthen-climate-resilience-colombia}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }