**2. Literature Review**

Despite the great economic benefits that tourism generates in various countries, the sector presents an environmental concern, as it gives rise to massive CO<sup>2</sup> emissions (Li et al. 2019). A study carried out by the UNWTO and the United Nations (UN) reveals that tourism contributes 5% of all anthropogenic CO2, while between 50 and 60% of carbon emissions are indirectly related to the industry (Dwyer et al. 2010; Calderón-Vargas et al. 2019; OMT-a 2019). The need thus arises to direct tourism activity using sustainability guidelines and to think about sustainable tourism. The latter must fully take into account current and future economic, social, and environmental repercussions while satisfying the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities (UNWTON 2021). Some authors firmly believe that the sustainability of tourism development is based on the creation of a tourism product with particular characteristics that suit the present and future needs of tourists (Michalena et al. 2009). The concept of "sustainable tourism development" thus refers to economic, social, and environmental development that continually aims to improve the experiences of tourists. For others, this type of development is an additional opportunity for local communities to benefit from the products of their particular local identity and natural resources (Burns and Sancho 2003; Michalena et al. 2009). Sustainable

tourism is positively linked to economic development and has been an important source of income (Comerio and Strozzi 2019). The optimal management of sustainable tourism must take into account the principles of sustainability, encompassing the environmental, economic, and sociocultural aspects of tourism development. An adequate balance must be struck between these three dimensions to guarantee long-term sustainability.

In this sense, well-articulated sustainable tourism contributes effectively to local development. This in turn allows a society to offer alternatives for collective well-being, using the potential of local residents to generate innovative ideas that are economically beneficial to their home community (Mendoza-Moheno et al. 2021). Vásquez Barquero classifies this as a strategy that seeks social progress and local sustainable development based on the continuous improvement of available resources, particularly historical and cultural heritage, and thus contributes to improving the well-being of the population (Vázquez Barquero 2009). Conversely, Sergio Boisier maintains that local development is an endogenous process that occurs in small territorial units and human settlements capable of promoting economic dynamism and improving the population's quality of life (Boisier 2005). Local development involves three fundamental aspects: the local economy, the process of reactivating and revitalizing the local economy, and the efficient use of an area's existing endogenous resources to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and improve quality of life. This implies a participatory and equitable process that promotes the sustainable use of local and external resources and in which key local actors are encouraged to generate employment and income to improve the population's quality of life (Silva and Sandoval 2012). Dinis maintains that, if the environmental component is integrated into local development, one can speak of sustainable local development as socially equitable, economically viable, and environmentally friendly (Dinis et al. 2019).

It is thus necessary to consider the importance of fostering sustainable tourism that generates local development through the care and preservation of the environment. Accordingly, since several authors affirm a positive correlation between the consumption of renewable energy and economic growth (Chen et al. 2021; Apergis and Payne 2010; Omri 2013; Ozturk and Bilgili 2015), we propose a study of renewable energy and its influence on local development and sustainable tourism. Apergis's study of OECD countries reveals a long term equilibrium relationship between real GDP, renewable energy consumption, real gross fixed capital formation, and the labor force. This long term relationship indicates that a 1% increase in renewable energy consumption increases real GDP by 0.76%; a 1% increase in gross real fixed capital formation increases real GDP by 0.7%; and a 1% increase in the labor force increases real GDP by 0.24% (Apergis and Payne 2010). Tourism is a driving force for both economic growth and environmental sustainability, so the interaction between pollution and renewable energy consumption requires more attention (Sarpong et al. 2020). Tourism-related CO<sup>2</sup> emissions can be mitigated through the use of renewable energy in the tourism industry (Ali et al. 2021). Moreover, it is reported that tourists are willing to pay for activities that are likely to promote environmental quality (Sarpong et al. 2020). The regions of Central and South America have the potential to generate 100% of their electricity from renewable sources (Ben Jebli et al. 2019).

Ideally, Peru should move gradually toward "cleaner" growth that generates fewer emissions and does not compromise economic and social development, thus improving its competitiveness and productivity. This must be done, however, through the gradual implementation of clean technologies, beginning with those that offer the lowest costs (Gamio Aita 2021). It is also necessary to take advantage of the country's exceptional wind resources, great potential for solar energy, and products of its geographical and climatological characteristics (Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM) 2001). The Wind Atlas of Peru estimates the country to possess 20,493 MW of usable wind resources out of a total wind resource of 28,395 MW, which is of interest for the installation of wind power generation systems (MOCICC—Movimiento Ciudadano frente al Cambio Climático 2020b). Conversely, the most important technical and economic determining factor for the installation of thermoelectric solar systems is to have an annual direct solar radiation not less than 2000 kWh/m<sup>2</sup> , while the total potential of Peru is 2860 MW (MOCICC 2020a).
