November 10, 2011 - When Professor Wangari Muta Maathai passed away on September 25th in Nairobi, the world was united in sorrow, respect and admiration. Thousands of sympathy messages flooded Nairobi. Wangari Maathai was celebrated as an environmentalist and highly respected as a feminist, a fighter for human rights and as a green politician.

 

Barbara Unmüßig more»

Diversity and Security for the Ethiopian Power System A preliminary assessment of risks and opportunities for the power sector

- September 29, 2009 - Ethiopia, despite its recent rapid growth, is still among the least developed countries in the world. Its per-capita income is only US$896 [(in Purchasing Power Parity (IMF, 2009)] and it ranked 169 of 179 in the Human Development Index in 2006 (UNDP, 2008). Ethiopia’s stock of economic and social infrastructure is growing but is still considerably lower than the sub-Saharan average. Per-capita consumption of electricity is only 7% of the Sub-Saharan average and less than 20% of the population uses electricity. more»

Gender mainstreaming is, at its core, a radical socio-political concept for achieving gender equality and equal opportunity. Barbara Unmüßig explores its advance – and the difficulties encountered. more»

August 19, 2009 - A culture of violence has emerged in the Horn of Africa, based on traditions of origin, a fixation with territory, a feudal vision of the exercise of power and an "absolutist" concept of conflict. "In Quest for a Culture of Peace" proposes a holistic approach in addressing the region's conflicts. more»

August 20, 2009 - THIS VOLUME, written by eminent scholars on Africa and practitioners who have worked in or with the African Union, is a particularly timely and welcome addition to the pioneering literature about our young institution. The African Union (AU) was born in Durban, South Africa, in July 2002, at a time when Africans were rediscovering a sense of pride in their continent and a desire to pursue an African Renaissance. more»

September 1, 2011 - more»

Ensuring Energy Security in a Changing Climate

- November 11, 2011 -

The Ethiopian energy system relies on hydropower for 95% of its electricity production. Despite a growing electricity demand estimated at 13% per year, the dependence on hydropower is expected to reach nearly 100% by 2015. Along with the benefits of high specialization on hydropower, there are risks related to the vulnerability of the power system to natural hazards. Climate change, with its changing rainfall and temperature patterns, will affect both water and biomass resources and increase the country’s vulnerability as a result.

Vulnerability of the power system and its potential environmental, economic and social impacts can be mitigated through diversification of the power generation mix. In addition to hydropower, Ethiopia has considerable potential to produce energy from other resources such as geothermal, wind, biomass and solar energy.

The Green Forum 2009 explored possible strategies to make better use of Ethiopia’s diverse resources for power generation with a view to reducing the country’s vulnerability to natural and economic uncertainties. 

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