Sustainability, Sociocultural Challenges, and New Power of Capitalism for Renewable Energy Megaprojects in an Indigenous Mayan Community of Mexico

Abstract

Sustainable development is an integrated blend of energetic, economic, social, environmental, and governmental actors, making it one of the most challenging and subjective aims of the United Nations. A sustainability project that does not consider any of these parameters can generate resistance among different actors of society. In this work, we have demonstrated that the traditional definition of sustainability encompassing economic development, environmental protection, and social justice does not adequately cover large-scale renewable energy projects. We have presented an illuminating case study of solar development in the Yucatan state of Mexico to show that the traditional three-legged stool of sustainable development fails to accommodate local power relations and their role in energy decision-making. This point is made through a substantive and illuminating ethnography of a solar project in the community of San José Tipceh, which involves the importance of energy democracy and understanding power relations in any assessment of sustainable development. These power relations are an important component of sustainable development, and all megaprojects, especially renewable energy projects, require special attention in the governance processes. Through an analysis of an example of implementation of a mega solar project, we argue that the methodology through which the power is exercised is an exercise of great importance because it leads us to a scientific discussion that structures an international reflection on sustainability. The case study consists of mixed methods, including several techniques to deepen the analysis of sociocultural aspects, and tries to present the limits and show the weakness of the sustainability perspective in such megaprojects. It is concluded that environmental justice as a basic element of the new era of renewable energies is limited and can generate social injustices. In the same way, this work shows how power is exercised in the implementation of energy projects and in the absence of equitable comprehensive governance that does not consider the local sociocultural contexts of the communities, resulting in the generation of new powers and permanent conflicts. At the end of this work, a framework to empower local sociocultural contexts for an equitable energy transition is recommended.

Building Consensus for Sustainable Development: Evaluation Theory Insights

“…These issues are exacerbated by the fact that people voting decision depends upon their preferences which, in turn, may lead to unjust and unsustainable results [11,24,25]. Hence, the research frontier is to enquire about our evaluation principles and goals, the way preferences support or undermine them, and extend our methodological toolkit to debate, include, and estimate all the relevant aspects of justice, democracy, and sustainable development [13,26,27,28,29].…”

Social-Environmental Conflicts in Chile: Is There Any Potential for an Ecological Constitution?

“…However, in some cases, they have caused land conflicts. Specifically, they have been associated with social injustice because projects may transform or threaten indigenous natural or spiritual areas [99][100][101][102][103]. In Chile, an emblematic case is the conflict over the Ralco hydroelectric dam.…”

The Dominan Concept of Corporate Social Responsibility Projects Based on Bibliometric Analysis: Improving Quality or Stagnation?

“…Meanwhile, according to the results of research from Kamil et al (2019), it also explains about social training, but based on entrepreneurship which focuses more on the local potential of an area, so that the community can empower optimally. Then in research (El Mekaoui et al, 2020), it explains more about the challenges that occur or problems from a sociocultural perspective that exist in the community. From various explanations or quotes regarding previous research that is correlated with community empowerment through the CSR program, it can be a concept picture for the author both in terms of the problems or problems being faced, in terms of implementing CSR programs, in terms of program implementers or stakeholders and stakeholders in program implementation.…”