Interface between appropriate technology and sustainable energy policy in vulnerable societies

Vulnerable societies are communities which are susceptible to damage when exposed to recurring triggers of natural disaster and/or socio-political conflicts, due to their geospatial and economic characteristics. It is proposed that additionally, access to sustainable energy influences the vulnerability of societies and vice versa. Although technological solutions exist, it is not sufficient to ensure access to sustainable energy systems. Political will and commitment has been identified as the corresponding measure. However, policy needs to know what it needs to do, thereby requiring the technical know-how and managerial capabilities in selecting the most appropriate energy generation, distribution, and utilisation technology for a given set of social, political, environmental, and economic circumstances. Hence, there is a clear need for technocrats and politicians to work on the same platform for a sustainable energy framework, more clearly so in the case of vulnerable societies. This paper aims to bridge the gap in theoretical and applied sustainable energy policies by constructing an interface between appropriate technology and energy policies, particularly within the context of vulnerable societies. Integration of historical perspectives, cultural standpoints, and local knowledge into policymaking and institutional development, directed towards technological independence, has been identified as the main foundation to this interface. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.