To speak of solving energy poverty while advocating for restrictions on the use of fossil fuels, the main source of the world’s energy, is like trying to cure cancer by reducing the number of cancer researchers.

Yet this illogical stance is now mainstream and dominates energy policy discussions, so much so that many simply skip over the matter and assume that restrictions are inevitable, instead focusing on ‘solving’ and ‘battling’ the global climate by trying to ‘manage’ a single factor – the concentration of CO2 in the planet’s atmosphere, despite overwhelming evidence that human’s cannot control the planet’s climate, especially over extended time periods that involve myriad unavoidable and unforeseen influences.

Perhaps the billions of people currently in energy poverty, including those described in the article we reference below, should have more of a say on who gets to decide what type of energy they are allowed to use, and why the world’s rich and elite are trying to restrict their access, all while going on their merry energy-intensive and historic fossil fuel wealth-driven ways…

KEY QUOTE:

Since Covid-19 struck, 15 million people living in sub-Saharan Africa, who had recently gained access to basic electricity, can no longer afford it. Globally, four-in-five people without access to electricity now live in sub-Saharan Africa.

This energy poverty affects economic growth and fuels poverty and environmental destruction. It means that farmers must endure without access to irrigated water during droughts, mechanised agriculture for improved productivity, or even access to markets for their crops.

It means that forests are still being felled for use as household fuel. Degraded environments limit options for coping with climate change, whose impacts deepen poverty. It’s a vicious cycle. Climate change, poverty, and energy poverty are intertwined and demand solutions that address all three. Meanwhile, solar power in Africa represents just 1% of the global total.

ARTICLE / SOURCE:

Africa: ‘Clean energy solutions are woefully underfunded today’ – The Africa Report

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