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The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) forum comprises one of the world’s top economies. These countries account for over 40% of the world’s total population. The region, owing to its growing economic importance, remains the top user, making it one of the world’s top emitters of greenhouse gases.
Illustration by The Geostrata
Such cases bring the question of energy equity into dialogue that involves the benefits of energy to all sections of the population. Therefore, the role of countries under BRICS that have witnessed historical marginalisation due to overpopulation, lack of clean energy access, and infrastructure becomes essential.
In light of the existing challenges, the article intends to identify the role of involving youth and energy equity in tracking energy transition and equity in the current period.
YOUTH ADVOCACY FOR CLEAN TECHNOLOGY
The role of the recent generation remains critical in developing clean energy-saving technologies. The development of such technologies requires the development and deployment of energy-saving technologies from production to consumption. Such technologies fit into the current principles of ensuring energy equity owing to their involvement in the local population.
Therefore, such technologies will not only lead to the development of energy-saving industries but also enhance their use for residential purposes, increasing the reach of the local population of BRICS access to clean energy sources.
Such mechanisms will further strengthen the commitments of BRICS nations like Russia, China and India, which have reduced their carbon emission significantly by 41.10% since 2000.
YOUTH IN SKILL BUILDING
Developing skills remains critical in developing low-carbon and energy-saving technologies and infrastructure systems. The growing share of low-carbon energy sources requires the development of natural gas, renewable energy, nuclear energy and hydrogen sources.
Therefore, developing appropriate skills among youth with the help of knowledge will enable the integration of the young workforce in the sectors to counter energy challenges and build an environment of sustainable practices for the future. Developing skills and knowledge will lead to development and innovation involving young researchers and scientists.
This case can be exemplified by the BRICS Young Scientist Forum, which has engaged partnerships among researchers and scientists in climate change, innovation and renewable technologies. Such groupings involving the BRICS need to enhance knowledge transfer and development of skills to encourage innovation and overcome the challenges of energy transition in developing countries.
ROLE OF YOUTH AND ENERGY EQUITY
The countries have different capabilities to counter greenhouse gases and focus on energy transition mechanisms. The diverse nature of BRICS nations with different circumstances and economic realities can be essential for attaining energy transition and ensuring equity.
Such cases require the participation of youth-led businesses and startups with proper support mechanisms to identify appropriate technologies to cater to the growing supply of smart green technologies and the growing energy demands.
In continuation of their previous efforts, the BRICS countries have tried to identify and build a network of technologies to enhance the prospects of modern green energy technologies.
Such cases involve the development of digital modelling, intelligent grids, industry decarbonisation, system integration and energy-efficient buildings led by youth-centric groups and entrepreneurs to increase energy equity and enhance access to it.
The role of energy equity also improves the prospects for generating a role for trade, enterprise development and investment to promote education, employment, training and appropriate labour policies to create prospects for green jobs.
An example of this can be seen in the case of Senegal, which formulated a National Strategy on Green Jobs in collaboration with the Partnership for Action in the Green Economy. Later, Senegal’s green jobs policy was merged with the national employment policy. Therefore, green job opportunities can be improved with the prospects of knowledge sharing and developing green jobs.
GREEN INVESTMENTS FOR ENERGY EQUITY
Entrepreneurs and businesses need to target investments in sectors involving green technologies with prospects for building global value chains, capacity and consumer markets. Such actions will enhance the potential for expanding the market share of the technologies and increase the overall contribution of such sectors to the economy.
The current issues related to traditional sources of energy have made countries across the globe focus more on alternative and renewable energy sources.
A similar report titled ‘Renewable Energy and Jobs: Annual Review 2022’, in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), has shown that many countries are creating employment opportunities in the renewable energy sector. Therefore, there is a need for businesses in these countries and corporations to invest in secure, sustainable energy sources for a climate-secure future marked by energy equity.
In conclusion, countries need to involve a diverse range of actors to lead changes in energy use and equity for a climate-secure future. The advantages will enable the countries to tackle the historic challenges involving unemployment, overpopulation and energy insecurity.
Such attempts will allow the potential of their demographic dividend for green jobs and businesses to ensure overall prosperity and define necessary preconditions for a thriving economy resilient to the widespread implication of climate change and energy security.
BY ANIRBAN DUTTA
TEAM GEOSTRATA
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