A third of humanity – some 2.4 billion people – still rely on biomass (wood, charcoal or dung) as their primary source of energy.  1.6 billion people have no access to electricity. Without major improvements in the quality and quantity of energy services in developing countries the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will not be achieved.

A report from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) aims to help development practitioners understand the role of energy services in achieving the MDGs. UNDP warns against continuing to think of energy use as being driven by economic development. The time has come to re-assess how energy can stimulate human development.

Energy is central to practically all aspects of human welfare, including access to water, agricultural productivity, health care, education, job creation and environmental sustainability. Yet, millions of households in developing countries still lack access to safe and reliable energy and pay high prices for poor-quality substitutes.

Poor people spend much of their income on energy – in many cases over a third of total household expenditure. They devote a large portion of another important asset, their time, on energy related activities. Women and young girls spend upwards of six hours a day gathering fuelwood and water, cooking, and agro-processing. Access to modern energy could transform their lives.

Traditional fuels represent the lowest rungs on the ‘energy ladder’. More efficient and cleaner fuels such as charcoal, coal, kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and finally modern biofuels such as ethanol and methanol represent successively higher rungs on the ladder.

UNDP shows how innovations have helped poor people to save money, climb the energy ladder and contribute to achieving the MDGs:

• Access to mechanical power via the introduction of small diesel engines in villages in Mali reduced time spent on domestic chores, increased agricultural output and women’s income, boosting girls’ school enrolment and health care.
• Wind technology has allowed a community in Chile to obtain electricity at a quarter of the price they used to pay.
• In Kenya fuel-efficient stoves have reduced indoor smoke and levels of conjunctivitis.
• In the Philippines access to electricity is statistically proven to significantly improve maternal health.
• In Senegal deforestation has been reduced by a government scheme to replace the use of biomass with LPG.
• In Lithuania geothermal water used for heating has reduced emissions from burning fossil fuels.

Energy’s role in underpinning the MDGs has yet to be fully recognised by the development community. Market forces alone cannot be expected to deliver sustainable services that favour poor people. UNDP calls for:

• energy partnerships between governments, development agencies, civil society and the private sector
• action to help developing countries to make energy a central part of development strategies
• innovative forms of risk sharing under public-private partnerships as a way to attract private sector investment in sustainable energy
• recognition of the gender aspects of energy: energy services can empower women and increase girls’ education opportunities
• inclusion of energy indicators in national development frameworks and monitoring processes, similar to those now routinely used for education, health and other dimensions of development.

Source(s):
‘Energizing the Millennium Development Goals: A guide to energy’s role in reducing poverty’, United Nations Development Program, August 2005 Full document.

Funded by: United Nations Development Program

id21 Research Highlight: 29 March 2006

Further Information:
Minoru Takada
Energy and Environment Group
Bureau for Development Policy
United Nations Development Programme
10th Floor, 304 East 45th Street
New York, NY 10017
USA

Tel: +1 212 906 5155
Fax: +1 212 906 5148
Contact the contributor: minoru.takada@undp.org; energyandenvironment@undp.org

Environment and Energy Group, United Nations Development Programme

Other related links:
'Putting energy at the heart of poverty reduction'

'Cutting household smoke to improve quality of life'

'Energy in Africa – time to think across borders?'

'What energy systems are appropriate for poor villagers?'

'Smoke alarm – tackling the dangers of indoor air pollution'