Journal of Pharmacovigilance

Regional energy resilience dealing with fossil energy shortages

Conference Series LLC Joint International Event on 7^th Pharmacovigilance & Pharmaceutical Industry

August 22-24, 2016 Vienna, Austria

Susanna Erker and Gernot Stoeglehner

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Austria

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Pharmacovigil

Abstract:

Crisis preparedness, prevention, and intervention are comprehensive issues and important to all sectors of our society. In this context, the concept of resilience arises, which describes how social, ecological or economic systems may or may not handle various types of crises. Herein, temporal and spatial aspects of the occurring crisis needs to be considered in order to anticipate its impact, to be prepared, to respond, to adapt, as well as to cope with critical effects. Building on this basic definition, a regional energy resilience concept was developed, wherein the resilience of different sites and locations within a region during a sudden but long term decline of fossil fuel supply was in focus. Despite a drop of conventional energy supply, the aim was to obtain the regional necessities by securing the energy dependent basic needs of living, namely housing, supply with essential goods, mobility and working. In order to align with this overall approach, six dimensions of regional energy resilience were defined: Ability to learn, strength, efficiency, redundancy, diversity and exposure. By implementing these dimensions as an analytical framework, the baseline resilience of a community can be analyzed and strengthened regarding the protection of basic needs in different spatial contexts. But what does regional energy resilience mean when it comes to industrial or commercial matters? Will we be able to positively influence energy resilience? Which measures need to be taken? The contribution gives answers to these questions.

Biography :

Email: susanna.erker@boku.ac.at