RISE to the occasion? A critique of the World Bank's Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy

The World Bank's Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy (RISE) scorecard evaluates countries' sustainable energy policies against global 'best practices.' Here I demonstrate that many of these so-called best practices are inappropriate in the context of limited state capacity. Using several examples from the RISE report, I argue that the World Bank should replace the pursuit of one-size-fits-all best practices and instead focus on generating knowledge about the contextual fit of different policy approaches. Drawing inspiration from research on adaptive reform strategies in the developing country context, I argue that an adaptive and flexible strategy could help national governments to surmount obstacles to policies that over time make the dream of sustainable energy for all a global reality.