Among Sixteen initiatives from around the world that were announced on the 26th of October, as winners of the prestigious United Nations climate change award “Momentum for Change Lighthouse Activity”; the women of El Salvador’s initiative stand out as an innovative way of using geothermal “waste-heat” and at the same time generating indirect income for about 45,570 people. Geothermal energy is the heat produced deep in the Earth’s core, and is a clean, renewable resource that can be harnessed for use for heat and electricity. There is great interest in geothermal energy in many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is estimated that Latin American has a 6,000 MW geothermal potential of which 43% is in Central America. El Salvador alone is currently exploring two new sites with a capacity of more than 200 MW while 25 percent of its electricity is of geothermal source. With less than a month before COP21 in Paris, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres said. “By showcasing these remarkable solutions and the people behind them we can strengthen efforts toward that new agreement, accelerate the global transition to a low-carbon, highly resilient development path and mark a turning point in the sustainable management of planet Earth for the seven billion alive today and the ten billion by 2050.” Each of the 16 winning activities touches on one of Momentum for Change’s four focus areas: Urban Poor, Women for Results, Financing for Climate Friendly Investment and ICT Solutions. All 16 will be showcased at a series of special events during the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, France (30 November to 11 December). In El Salvador, typically wood and other fossil fuels are burnt to dehydrate fruit and pump water, which releases greenhouse gas emissions and causes climate change. Deforestation is also an issue in the region as wood is cut down for fuel. But “Harvesting Geothermal Energy” has proven to not only as being a sustainable affordable initiative but a profitable one. Dozens of women from 15 rural communities in El Salvador and living in communities near the LaGeo’s geothermal plants, use waste heat from the geothermal steam to dehydrate fruit for themselves and for commercial sale to increase their incomes and at the same time tackle climate, where it is estimated that 1.8 tons of CO2 are avoided per year as well, by using geothermal waste heat instead of traditional fossil fuels. The women also grow and sell plants watered with geothermal condensates. The initiative is also reducing deforestation due to the establishment of a wildlife protection park and several reforestation projects in the geothermal field. Four women are employed as rangers in the park. They are in charge of conservation activities, caring for rescued animals and guiding visitors. The protected forest has an area of 111,824 m2. Water services for the wildlife protection park are provided by surplus steam condensates. Through this project, women are able to run a productive business while earning a sustainable income. The women participating in LaGeo’s reforestation activities will be enhanced through a Grupo CEL project, whose goal is to plant 3 million trees in 3 years to reforest the Lempa and Torala watersheds. In general, there are clean energy resources are abundant in our globe, what is needed is the commitment to make the transition into these resources and as soon as we can, before regretting our reluctance that may result as disasters we witness frequently due to climate change. Sources: unfccc, ndf.fi, climate-l.iisd, etc… Photo source: https://qzprod.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/peru-forest-women-e1446199771655.jpeg?quality=80&strip=all&w=1600
