A capability approach to analyse well-being impacts of wind energy infrastructure
This paper operationalises the capability approach to analyse the tensions and trade-offs in assessing well-being outcomes generated by the production of wind energy, and how these reflect social acceptance at the local level. Specifically, the paper addresses the difficulties in understanding the v...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/ad269c |
| _version_ | 1797276957277159424 |
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| author | Paola Velasco-Herrejón Enoc López Toledo Juana Arely Romo López Tania Karina Antonio Escobar Elizabeth Carrasco Morales William Hernández Ramírez Lizbeth Yessenia Ignacio Hernández Gisel Andrea Gutiérrez Felipe Lirio Scaanda Jiménez López Norma Iris Rueda Rasgado Jade Martinez Sánchez Jesús Martínez Arreguín |
| author_facet | Paola Velasco-Herrejón Enoc López Toledo Juana Arely Romo López Tania Karina Antonio Escobar Elizabeth Carrasco Morales William Hernández Ramírez Lizbeth Yessenia Ignacio Hernández Gisel Andrea Gutiérrez Felipe Lirio Scaanda Jiménez López Norma Iris Rueda Rasgado Jade Martinez Sánchez Jesús Martínez Arreguín |
| author_sort | Paola Velasco-Herrejón |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper operationalises the capability approach to analyse the tensions and trade-offs in assessing well-being outcomes generated by the production of wind energy, and how these reflect social acceptance at the local level. Specifically, the paper addresses the difficulties in understanding the voice of Indigenous people living near wind energy infrastructure in Southern Mexico and how their conceptions of well-being can be used to estimate the impact of wind energy development on three different communities. The methodology involved a three-stage process that integrated semi-structured interviews, focus groups, a survey, and participatory workshops, involving 450 participants. The findings conclude that community acceptability of energy infrastructure such as wind farms will only be achieved through inclusive community engagement that considers valued ways of being and doing of the local population. These include increasing the opportunities for people to live in good health, skilled employment in the industry, engaging and integrating local culture, values, worldviews and needs, and having a collective approach to the distribution of economic benefits that may strengthen social networks. By focusing on the recognition of valuable human capabilities from a participatory mixed-methods perspective, this paper contributes to a more compelling body of theory on social wind energy impacts that focuses on locally defined priorities and perspectives. Furthermore, this study also shows how the inclusion of community members as co-researchers is crucial to validate and locate local knowledge at the forefront while allowing local stakeholders to exercise greater voice and agency in how the research is conducted and designed. We hope that this methodology can offer useful insights for the design and implementation of future renewable energy projects that have environmental and social sustainability in mind. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:36:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8afc8a95acb74a528f946821acd33930 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2634-4505 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:36:50Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj.art-8afc8a95acb74a528f946821acd339302024-03-05T10:22:28ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability2634-45052024-01-014101500910.1088/2634-4505/ad269cA capability approach to analyse well-being impacts of wind energy infrastructurePaola Velasco-Herrejón0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8019-7784Enoc López Toledo1Juana Arely Romo López2Tania Karina Antonio Escobar3Elizabeth Carrasco Morales4William Hernández Ramírez5Lizbeth Yessenia Ignacio Hernández6Gisel Andrea Gutiérrez Felipe7Lirio Scaanda Jiménez López8Norma Iris Rueda Rasgado9Jade Martinez Sánchez10Jesús Martínez Arreguín11Department of Technology Systems, University of Oslo , Gunnar Randers vei 19, Kjeller N-2007, Norway; Centre of Development Studies, University of Cambridge , 2nd floor Alison Richard Building 7 West Road, Cambridge, CB3 9DT, United KingdomIndependent ResearcherIndependent ResearcherIndependent ResearcherIndependent ResearcherIndependent ResearcherIndependent ResearcherIndependent ResearcherIndependent ResearcherIndependent ResearcherIndependent ResearcherIndependent ResearcherThis paper operationalises the capability approach to analyse the tensions and trade-offs in assessing well-being outcomes generated by the production of wind energy, and how these reflect social acceptance at the local level. Specifically, the paper addresses the difficulties in understanding the voice of Indigenous people living near wind energy infrastructure in Southern Mexico and how their conceptions of well-being can be used to estimate the impact of wind energy development on three different communities. The methodology involved a three-stage process that integrated semi-structured interviews, focus groups, a survey, and participatory workshops, involving 450 participants. The findings conclude that community acceptability of energy infrastructure such as wind farms will only be achieved through inclusive community engagement that considers valued ways of being and doing of the local population. These include increasing the opportunities for people to live in good health, skilled employment in the industry, engaging and integrating local culture, values, worldviews and needs, and having a collective approach to the distribution of economic benefits that may strengthen social networks. By focusing on the recognition of valuable human capabilities from a participatory mixed-methods perspective, this paper contributes to a more compelling body of theory on social wind energy impacts that focuses on locally defined priorities and perspectives. Furthermore, this study also shows how the inclusion of community members as co-researchers is crucial to validate and locate local knowledge at the forefront while allowing local stakeholders to exercise greater voice and agency in how the research is conducted and designed. We hope that this methodology can offer useful insights for the design and implementation of future renewable energy projects that have environmental and social sustainability in mind.https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/ad269ccapability approachsocial acceptancerenewable energy infrastructurewind energywell-beingparticipatory methods |
| spellingShingle | Paola Velasco-Herrejón Enoc López Toledo Juana Arely Romo López Tania Karina Antonio Escobar Elizabeth Carrasco Morales William Hernández Ramírez Lizbeth Yessenia Ignacio Hernández Gisel Andrea Gutiérrez Felipe Lirio Scaanda Jiménez López Norma Iris Rueda Rasgado Jade Martinez Sánchez Jesús Martínez Arreguín A capability approach to analyse well-being impacts of wind energy infrastructure Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability capability approach social acceptance renewable energy infrastructure wind energy well-being participatory methods |
| title | A capability approach to analyse well-being impacts of wind energy infrastructure |
| title_full | A capability approach to analyse well-being impacts of wind energy infrastructure |
| title_fullStr | A capability approach to analyse well-being impacts of wind energy infrastructure |
| title_full_unstemmed | A capability approach to analyse well-being impacts of wind energy infrastructure |
| title_short | A capability approach to analyse well-being impacts of wind energy infrastructure |
| title_sort | capability approach to analyse well being impacts of wind energy infrastructure |
| topic | capability approach social acceptance renewable energy infrastructure wind energy well-being participatory methods |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/ad269c |
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