Professor Nathwani is committed to advancing engineering solutions that drive “positive humanitarian change”. Since 2015, he has led the Global Change Initiative – Affordable Energy for Humanity (AE4H), a testament to his bold vision, leadership, and dedication to leveraging STEM innovations to address the pressing issue of energy poverty.
AE4H represents a global consortium of leading universities, NGOs, SMEs, and thought leaders united by the goal of enabling affordable and universal energy access. The initiative is a transformative model for fostering sustainable development, empowering vulnerable populations, and addressing energy inequities. At its heart, Professor Nathwani’s research focuses on:
- Developing technologies aligned with community values and needs.
- Promoting community autonomy through social innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Implementing solutions that drive long-term livelihood improvements and sustainability.s.
Professor Nathwani also serves as a scientific member of the International Conference on Energy Access, where he actively contributes to innovative strategies for practical implementation. His work advances collaborations between academics and practitioners from the Global South and Canada’s Indigenous communities, enhancing local capacities and creating sustainable pathways for improving lives.
Professor Nathwani led the groundbreaking project, ‘Mending Broken Lives Through Clean Energy Solutions: Innovations for Humanitarian Change,’ which was shortlisted for the prestigious MacArthur Foundation’s ‘$100M&Change’ challenge.
This visionary initiative focuses on leveraging clean energy solutions to address critical humanitarian issues, demonstrating the potential of innovative approaches to drive meaningful global change.
The project continues to attract attention and remains under active consideration by global philanthropic organizations through the ‘Lever for Change’ program, reflecting its potential to make a transformative impact on communities worldwide.
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Professor Nathwani has been instrumental in encouraging global partnerships and actionable solutions for sustainable energy and social value creation. He led two major global summits and four AE4H Innovation Labs in collaboration with the Waterloo Global Science Initiative, bringing together researchers, thought leaders, innovators, and stakeholders to inspire and catalyze entrepreneurial action, particularly in the Global South.
Notable initiatives include HITCH, which delivers educational and technological support to remote communities, bridging gaps in access to vital resources.
This work is aligned with a broader vision of developing the next generation of social enterprises and systems designed for long-term social value creation, empowering communities and fostering sustainable progress.
Highlighted below are few selected publications:
- J. Nathwani, D. Kammen, ‘Affordable Energy for Humanity: A Global Movement to Support Universal Clean Energy Access,’ Special Issue IEEE Spectrum, Electricity for All: Issues, Challenges and Solutions for Energy-Disadvantaged Communities, v107, 9, 2019, pp1780-1789. [Link]
- Nathwani, J.S. and Blackstock, J (lead authors), ‘Equinox Blueprint Energy 2030- A technological roadmap for a low-carbon, electrified future, ‘Waterloo Global Science Initiative (WGSI.org).Launched at the AAAS Annual Meeting, Vancouver, February 2012. [Link] [Link]
- Nathwani, J.S., Pandey, M., and Lind, N.C., ‘Engineering Decisions for Life Quality: How Safe is Safe Enough’, Springer Series in Reliability Engineering, Springer – Verlag, London, 2009.