ENERGY POVERTY: WHY HALF THE WORLD IS IN THE DARK

Energy powers life. It is the source of everything we need to survive and it is what makes things work. It preserves food, heats homes, powers appliances, produces light, and makes transportation and communication possible. Without it, we will not be able to survive, and our quality of life would significantly plummet.

Simply-defined, energy poverty is the lack of access to energy. Many countries, specifically among less urbanized nations, face this problem and the people have no choice but to cope and manage the best that they can. Have you ever wondered why people in sub-Saharan Africa live in such poor conditions and have almost no access to the most basic human necessities? The answer is complex and not limited to this area of the world, however, the lack of energy production is a significant factor.

In 2019, Africa had almost three times the population of the US, but was generating only 20% of the US’s total electricity levels. If one would look up a NASA image of the Earth at night, it is easy to see the difference between North America and Africa in terms of electricity use. North America is bright and well-lit, while Africa is almost entirely pitch black. Some people even call it “the dark continent” for that reason.

Energy poverty manifests its effects in many ways. To begin with, it greatly impacts a population’s education level. Lack of proper access to energy limits teaching resources and classroom materials, presents obstacles for students to complete schoolwork, and limits the amount of time teachers and students can spend at school. Moreover, with the current pandemic, when education is reliant on the access to computers and internet connectivity, the problems of energy poverty are further exacerbated.

Another issue linked to energy poverty is poor health. The deficient supply of energy prevents communities from properly preparing, cooking, and preserving their food. Countries with low GDPs in Asia and Africa opt for using kerosene as a cooking fuel because it is cheap and accessible. Some countries, such as India and Nepal, subsidize its retail price to make it that much more affordable to the people of lower socio-economic standing. Often seen as a good alternative to solid fuels, biomass, and coal, kerosene lanterns are used in places where access to electricity is not available. The low price point and higher availability contribute to make this option more attractive for the average layperson.

Used all over the world for lighting, heating and cooking, kerosene poses great risks to its consumers as it is a highly toxic and flammable liquid fossil fuel. However, due to advancements in technology and electrification, its use in industrialized countries has completely vanished, and for good reason. Kerosene produces high levels of air pollutants and is capable of killing more people than HIV and AIDS combined; risks increase when used in the long-term, in small spaces, and without proper precautions. Not only that, but it can easily cause explosions when handled improperly.

Sadly, kerosene is still being used in many parts of the under-industrialized world to this day, because it is one of the only sources of energy available in those areas.

Highlighting the issue further, inadequate household energy has been linked to cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, cancer, and arthritis. Additionally, over 40% of the global population does not have access to clean water; as energy systems are required to heat, disinfect, and purify it. According to the Government of Canada, up to 80% of illnesses in the developing world are caused by inadequate water sanitation, and 1 out of every 5 deaths of children under the age of 5 is due to a water-related disease. Life expectancy is also greatly-affected by energy poverty. The difference in life expectancy levels between energy-abundant and energy-deficient nations can be as much as 20 years.

There is a two-way relationship between a country’s energy consumption level and its economic development. On the one hand, no country has ever achieved sustained economic growth without sufficient energy supplies. On the other hand, energy consumption levels are significant indicators of economic development, and energy poverty might be explained by low income and low employment levels. Without a strong economy, enough jobs, and adequate income levels, it is not possible for a country to be able to afford sufficient and consistent energy supplies.

But looking back at the problems that have already been mentioned, how can such a country develop economically? How can a population that lacks proper education, clean water, good health, and electricity develop economically? Without their basic needs, all they will be focusing on is their survival in such circumstances.

The only way to alleviate energy poverty is to better understand energy demands and revolutionize energy systems. Shifting to affordable and sustainable clean energy, in turn, means that students will be able study after dark, food will be consistently and properly preserved and will be safely-grown and cooked , clean water will be widely available, and the prevalence of infectious diseases will be decreased at a considerable rate.

The payoffs of addressing energy poverty seem very promising, but it is not an easy shift to make. Fossil fuels are the dominant source of modern energy in countries where energy is abundant and shifting to more sustainable practices poses its challenges.