ABSTRACT
Understanding humanitarian energy issues requires consideration of the structures of governance, institutions and practices involved in energy for displacement. This chapter provides a brief overview of the emergence of the humanitarian energy sector, including how institutions such as UNHCR, global bodies, funders and implementing partners function, and the international and local levels at which governance and ideas are being shared. Firstly, the chapter covers why energy is an essential need in humanitarian contexts and presents initial definitions for many of the terms currently used in the sector. Secondly, the chapter covers international action on humanitarian energy and the policies used to support progress towards SDG 7 on sustainable energy within humanitarian practices. Thirdly, the chapter concludes by presenting the role of institutions, and discussing the implications of the leaving no-one behind agenda during the clean energy transition. The aim of the chapter is to provide an overview of the governance and policies within humanitarian energy, while opening up discussion on key challenges, barriers and solutions.
