One-third of world lives in energy poverty
According to the U.N, people who are 'energy poor' might gather solid fuels like wood and dung to burn for cooking and heat. (Photo: prolix6x)
Between 2 to 3 billion people – or roughly one-third of the world’s population – are living in energy poverty, according to the United Nations.
The U.N. defines “energy poverty” as lack of access to clean and efficient energy systems. People who are considered energy poor often rely on human and animal power for production. They might gather solid fuels like wood and dung to burn for cooking and heat. Rob Bailis works with energy poverty issues at Yale University.
Rob Bailis: It is the way that people have been living for thousands of years. Meanwhile, half of the world’s population has shifted into what we would consider a much more modern, convenient way to live, a way which is easier to maintain health standards.
Solid fuel use causes what Bailis called indoor air pollution, which in turn is linked to widespread respiratory illnesses and lung diseases. According to the World Health Organization, indoor air pollution kills more people than malaria or tuberculosis each year. Bailis spoke of creating markets for clean, renewable energy. And he said improving access to modern energy would have huge health benefits for large populations. But he said even the term “energy poverty” raises a complex set of issues.
Rob Bailis: What would be non-poverty? How much energy is enough? When is somebody not energy poor? That’s an open question.
Rice University research paper on Energy, Poverty, and Society
Our thanks to:
Rob Bailis
professor at Yale School of Forestry & Environment
Yale University
New Haven, CT
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Rob asks, how much energy would it take for someone not to be energy poor? I’m not sure, but it would make a world of difference for those with no electricity to have enough for a light bulb and for a rural village to have enough to run, say, a small water pump. It’s then an important step up to provide enough for an electric oven or stove. There are a few technologists designing systems for use in energy poor rural villages. But who is willing to pay for them? Perhaps the One Laptop Per Child project will help stimulate more interest.