Vast inequities exist between energy use and access to energy. Average energy use per North American is 6 times higher than an average European and 11 times higher than an average Asian or African. Fossil fuels provide 83% of energy in developed countries versus 36% in sub-Saharan Africa, where traditional biomass fuels account for almost 60% of energy use.
Energy poverty
More than 2 billion people are affected by energy poverty - they do not have access to reliable, modern, energy supplies and are instead forced to rely upon traditional biomass fuels, which can be unsustainable and costly in terms of expenditure and labour and have health implications through indoor air pollution.
Poverty reduction will drive up demand for energy in developing countries. Though this will have implications for climate change, the growth required for the poor to meet their basic energy needs cannot equitably and justifiably be constrained. Therefore current high energy using countries must take action to reduce their carbon emissions through reducing
- energy intensity
- carbon intensity
Reducing energy intensity
Progress can be acheived by investing in energy efficiency and trading locally.
Gains in energy efficiciency is the low cost option for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Easy steps include:
- wide appliaciton of currently available technologies
- innovation of new technology
- improved material efficiency
- increased recycling
- substitution of energy efficient goods
Waste can be further cut by cutting excessive and unnecessary consumption through educating individual consumers and changing their behaviour (see WWF's One Planet Living Top tips).
References: Smith, D. (2006). Just One Planet: Poverty, Justice and Climate Change.
