Navigating the currents of green hydrogen

Green hydrogen, harnessed thoughtfully, can carry nations towards energy and economic
transformations. Yet without a clear direction, this process can trigger unintended risks.
Produced via electrolysis using renewable electricity, green hydrogen holds significant potential
to decarbonize myriad end-uses, foster industrial diversification and drive economic prosperity.
Its potential for development is especially significant in renewable resource-rich developing
countries. Forecasted to be the main production centres of green hydrogen, some of these
countries are already developing ambitious strategies to take advantage of this potential
opportunity. For this emerging sector to support human development without recreating historical
patterns of dependency and extractivism, however, countries must guide it with care. Applying a
‘3P’ or people-planet-prosperity framework can align national capabilities, ecological safeguards
and local community voices. It can assess risks and rewards, and inform a strategic course to
sustainable, inclusive and resilient development.

While green hydrogen may become a source of opportunity for some countries, policymakers
everywhere must consider a range of factors and the implications of dedicating significant
time, resources and capital to the sector, along with its potential social, environmental and
economic impacts. Green hydrogen development strategies should align to local ecological,
social and economic contexts and aspirations, avoiding one-size-fits-all policies. Concurrently,
they need to navigate the global energy landscape and geopolitics to prevent the replication of
extractivist dynamics. The relationship between green hydrogen and sustainable, human centred
development is highly complex, requiring significant consideration and balancing so that real,
tangible benefits accrue for people domestically. This policy brief, designed for policymakers, provides a technology-agnostic assessment of green hydrogen and its fundamental tenets based on the 3P framework (Figure 1). It covers the main opportunities, key challenges and considerations, and possible solutions, concluding with policy recommendations for key stakeholders.

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