By Abbas Nazil
Renewable energy is increasingly recognised as a critical pillar of climate adaptation, as communities facing intensifying heatwaves, floods, storms and droughts depend on reliable power to survive and recover.
Experts warn that without stable energy systems, hospitals shut down, water supply systems fail, communication networks collapse and recovery efforts stall even before they begin.
A new strategic intelligence brief by REN21, titled: Renewables for Climate Adaptation and Resilience, highlights that adaptation is now central to economic and social stability as climate impacts intensify globally.
The brief cautions that failure to adapt effectively could result in losses of between 18 and 23 percent of global gross domestic product by 2050, while exposing nearly one fifth of the world’s population to severe climate risks.
Extreme weather events are already disrupting infrastructure, supply chains and essential services, with far reaching social and economic consequences.
Renewable energy is identified as one of the most practical and life saving adaptation tools available today, particularly for communities on the frontlines of climate change.
In places such as the Marshall Islands, repeated power outages previously shut down water, sanitation and communication systems for days, creating dangerous conditions in a country already threatened by rising sea levels.
The shift toward decentralised renewable energy systems in the islands was driven by the need for survival, turning energy security into a core adaptation strategy.
Similar lessons have emerged in the Caribbean, where households with rooftop solar systems were able to maintain electricity during hurricanes even as central grids collapsed.
Although access to solar power remains limited for many households, falling costs, improved financing options and supportive policies are expanding adoption across the region.
Renewables are increasingly described by regional leaders as a vital line of defence when disasters strike and conventional power systems fail.
The argument for renewables is not only humanitarian but also economic, as demonstrated by countries such as Uruguay, which now generates nearly all of its electricity from renewable sources.
Uruguay saves an estimated 500 million dollars annually by avoiding exposure to volatile global fuel prices while supporting tens of thousands of jobs.
This experience shows that renewable energy strengthens national budgets, reduces fiscal risk and enhances long term resilience.
Despite this evidence, renewables have often been treated mainly as tools for emissions reduction rather than as foundations of adaptation.
That perception is changing as more countries integrate renewable energy into national adaptation plans and climate commitments under global frameworks.
Decentralised and diversified renewable systems are increasingly favoured because they perform better under climate stress than centralised, fuel dependent grids.
However, the REN21 brief notes a gap between what works on the ground and how adaptation is planned, financed and measured at the global level.
Renewable energy remains underrepresented in adaptation finance and policy frameworks, despite its proven ability to reduce losses and keep societies functioning.
Experts argue that future climate strategies must place energy security at their core by directing investment toward decentralised renewable systems.
Climate adaptation, they stress, should prioritise keeping communities resilient and operational, with renewable energy now recognised as essential infrastructure rather than a peripheral solution.
