How Renewable Energy Can Support Peace in Conflict-Affected Countries
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
In this episode of the Do One Better Podcast, Alberto Lidji speaks with David Mozersky, President and Co-Founder of Energy Peace Partners, about the connection between renewable energy and peacebuilding in fragile and conflict-affected countries.
David explains how some of the least electrified countries in the world are also among the most affected by conflict and climate vulnerability. From South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo to Somalia and Chad, Energy Peace Partners works to bring renewable energy solutions to communities where electricity access can transform lives, strengthen local economies, improve health and education, enhance security, and support peace.
The conversation explores how distributed renewable energy, such as solar mini grids and public lighting, can create shared benefits for communities, open up new economic opportunities, and serve as a practical peacebuilding tool. David also introduces the Peace Renewable Energy Credit, known as a PREC, an innovative financing mechanism that helps channel sustainability funding into renewable energy projects in fragile settings.
David discusses the role of major corporate buyers, including Microsoft and Google, and looks at the potential of the new PREC Aggregation Facility, an $11 million initiative designed to unlock far larger investment in renewable energy projects across fragile states in Africa.
He also considers the role of philanthropy, the challenges of building a new field at the intersection of peace and renewable energy, and the importance of collaboration among funders, developers, policymakers, researchers, and peacebuilding organizations.
This is a thoughtful and timely conversation about how clean energy can do more than reduce emissions. It can improve lives, create new forms of cooperation, and contribute to peace and stability in some of the world’s most challenging contexts.
About Dave Mozersky
Dave Mozersky is the President and Co-Founder of Energy Peace Partners, a non-profit organization that supports renewable energy as a tool for peace in fragile settings.
He has been involved in international conflict resolution efforts since 2001, and has worked with the International Crisis Group, Humanity United and the African Union High-Level Panel on the Sudans (AUHIP), where he was part of the mediation team facilitating South Sudan’s peaceful separation from Sudan.
In 2016 he founded a new program at the University of California - Berkeley, looking at opportunities to leverage climate solutions to support peace, which led to the launch of Energy Peace Partners in 2017.