Quote:
Originally Posted by DoubleK
This popped in my feed and I thought I would share it here.
It applies Maslow's hierarchy of needs to the supply of electricity.
The developed world can talk about the top of the pyramid as they have largely satisfied the bottom two levels. It's the top two that are up for discussion.
When one thinks of the developing world, it's a bit of a different story and it's worse in Sub-Saharan Africa where approximately 80% of the people without access to electricity live.  |
This is bang on. Also important to remember that climate change is due to the cumulative emissions up to now and these countries contributed none of it (just 3% of all emissions to date), yet are expected to dig themselves out of poverty without emitting. The developed world must play a role. Africa contains 18% of the world's population and generates only 3% of electricity. Hundreds of millions are without any electricity. Africa also is disproportionately affected by climate change with tropical storms, floods, and droughts. They have the most to lose from climate change and have contributed the least. The developed world needs to play a role here.
Electricity is key for cooling and clean cooking. Burning wood/dung for cooking is associated with really poor health outcomes. Solar matches cooling needs fairly well, but until 2030 or so, Africa can and should use the natural gas resources they've discovered locally to back up some of the best renewable resources on the planet. Using that will only raise their total emissions to date to 3.5% of cumulative emissions and provide a reliable and cheap grid.