Powering Peace

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Authored by Victoria K. Holt, Director of the Dickey Center, and her research assistant, Anaïse Boucher-Browning, the report examines how UN peacekeeping operations can transition to renewable energy sources while supporting broader climate and development goals in conflict-affected countries. 

Focusing on the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan, the report presents a groundbreaking approach to aligning peacekeeping with clean energy initiatives. Making that transition could significantly reduce reliance on diesel fuel in UN missions, enhance security, and contribute to the long-term stability and development of these fragile states. 

"Renewable energy isn't just about meeting climate goals—it's a pathway to peace," said Victoria Holt. "Our research highlights the potential for UN peacekeeping missions to act as a catalyst for clean energy development, leaving behind a sustainable energy infrastructure that can benefit host nations long after the missions have ended." 

Key findings include: 

• Current Renewable Energy Use: Only 7% of energy used in UN peacekeeping missions comes from renewable sources, far from the UN's goal of 40% by 2025 and 80% by 2030. 

• Peace and Sustainability: Renewable energy can strengthen mission security, reduce operational costs, and contribute to sustainable development in host countries, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

• Leveraging UN Missions' Purchasing Power: The report underscores the opportunity for UN missions to act as anchor clients for renewable energy projects, sparking wider adoption and infrastructure development in these regions. 

The report offers a practical framework for linking climate and peacebuilding efforts in regions where access to energy is scarce, and the impacts of climate change are severe. 

This report was undertaken as part of the Powering Peace initiative, a multi-partner collaboration between the Dickey Center, the Stimson Center, and Energy Peace Partners, aimed at introducing renewable energy solutions to UN field missions. The initiative's goal is to integrate clean energy into peace operations, addressing the intersection of energy poverty, conflict risk, and climate vulnerability. 

The release of this report reinforces the Dickey Center's commitment to addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges through interdisciplinary research and collaboration. As part of Dartmouth's ongoing efforts to engage students, faculty, and global experts in these issues, the Powering Peace initiative continues to drive innovative solutions at the nexus of climate and security.

Download the full report here.

UN peacekeeping missions are the tangible global response to conflict. These vast, ongoing operations also represent a unique opportunity to advance climate, development, and peacebuilding goals in some of the most fragile, underdeveloped and least electrified countries in the world.

During the 2023 - 24 academic year, the Dickey Center Powering Peace initiative is partnering with the Thayer School of Engineering on a project to develop a decision-making framework for stakeholders working to decarbonize United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions in fragile states. The project team includes Thayer professors Vikrant Vaze and Steven Peterson and Thayer graduate students Lilly Yang and Siqi Ke. Dickey Center Director Tori Holt serves as the lead advisor. The project is additionally supported by the Irving Institute for Energy and Society. Professor Vaze spoke with Dean of Engineering Alexis Abramson more about his approach to this and other research operations projects here. 

What would it take for the United Nations, development donors, private investors, and entrepreneurs to make the transition to renewable energy a reality? The UN is committed to renewable energy and looking to change how it operates. Currently, UN peacekeeping missions rely primarily on generators burning fossil fuel that must be shipped in at great cost and significant risk.

Transitioning these outsized UN carbon footprints to renewable sources of energy provides a unique entry point to implement new projects that deliver climate change solutions where they are most needed. It offers the prospect of a win-win: the UN gets closer to fulfilling its pledge of 80 percent renewably-sourced energy by 2030, improves mission security, and lowers the cost of peacekeeping operations. At the same time, fragile host nations are provided with a sustainable energy infrastructure.

However, despite the good intentions and tremendous potential, progress has been slow. At present, only a fraction of funding to mitigate climate change goes to fragile states. The UN would like to partner with the private sector to catalyze renewable energy projects, but it lacks the systems and experience to do so at scale.

In May 2023, The Dickey Center hosted a workshop at Dartmouth, convening some of the world's foremost experts in the field. The workshop took a multi-disciplinary look at how to accelerate the transition of UN peacekeeping missions to renewable energy. Drawing on the knowledge of UN leaders, energy and entrepreneurial experts, diplomatic and policy leaders, and the financial sectors, we focused on moving from good intentions to practical plans to meet the UN's climate change goals, as well as the aims of host nations, UN missions, and the needs of the populations they serve. Learn more about the workshop and the participants here.