Sustainability, Sociocultural Challenges, and New Power of Capitalism for Renewable Energy Megaprojects in an Indigenous Mayan Community of Mexico

Amina El Mekaoui, Rasikh Tariq, Othón Baños Ramírez and P.E. Méndez-Monroy
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Amina El Mekaoui: Cátedra CONACYT, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales, Unidad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Calle 61 número 525 entre 66 y 68, col. Centro, Mérida C.P. 97000, Yucatán, Mexico
Rasikh Tariq: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Av. Industrias No Contaminantes por Anillo Periférico Norte, Apdo. Postal 150, Cordemex, Mérida C.P. 97000, Yucatán, Mexico
Othón Baños Ramírez: Research Professor, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales, Unidad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Calle 61 número 525 entre 66 y 68, col. Centro, Mérida C.P. 97000, Yucatán, Mexico
P.E. Méndez-Monroy: Research Professor, IIMAS-Mérida Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Yucatán, 5.5Km Carretera Sierra Papacal-Chuburna, Sierra Papacal C.P. 97302, Yucatán, Mexico

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 18, 1-23

Abstract: Sustainable development is an integrated blend of energetic, economic, social, environmental, and governmental actors, making it one of the most challenging and subjective aims of the United Nations. A sustainability project that does not consider any of these parameters can generate resistance among different actors of society. In this work, we have demonstrated that the traditional definition of sustainability encompassing economic development, environmental protection, and social justice does not adequately cover large-scale renewable energy projects. We have presented an illuminating case study of solar development in the Yucatan state of Mexico to show that the traditional three-legged stool of sustainable development fails to accommodate local power relations and their role in energy decision-making. This point is made through a substantive and illuminating ethnography of a solar project in the community of San José Tipceh, which involves the importance of energy democracy and understanding power relations in any assessment of sustainable development. These power relations are an important component of sustainable development, and all megaprojects, especially renewable energy projects, require special attention in the governance processes. Through an analysis of an example of implementation of a mega solar project, we argue that the methodology through which the power is exercised is an exercise of great importance because it leads us to a scientific discussion that structures an international reflection on sustainability. The case study consists of mixed methods, including several techniques to deepen the analysis of sociocultural aspects, and tries to present the limits and show the weakness of the sustainability perspective in such megaprojects. It is concluded that environmental justice as a basic element of the new era of renewable energies is limited and can generate social injustices. In the same way, this work shows how power is exercised in the implementation of energy projects and in the absence of equitable comprehensive governance that does not consider the local sociocultural contexts of the communities, resulting in the generation of new powers and permanent conflicts. At the end of this work, a framework to empower local sociocultural contexts for an equitable energy transition is recommended.

Keywords: sustainable development; energy democracy; indigenous community; renewable energy megaprojects; social resistance; energetic capitalism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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