Thursday 26 November 2009

UNDP-WHO report on energy access in developing countries


Currently, about 1.5 billion people in developing countries lack access to electricity and about 3 billion people rely on solid fuels for cooking. In sub-Saharan Africa, the number of people without access to electricity and modern fuels is similar (respectively 560 and 625 million people). In Asian regions, while people may have access to electricity, they often lack access to modern fuels. In East Asia and Pacific, less than 200 million people lack electricity access, but almost 1.1 billion people rely on solid fuels for cooking. 

The attention of the global energy access situation report highlights that three billion people still rely on traditional biomass and coal; with a striking two million deaths per year associated with indoor burning of these solid fuels in unventilated kitchens. Almost two billion people need modern energy services by 2015 to accelerate Millennium Development Goal's achievement.


Greater broad-based efforts are needed to expand access to modern energy services to those who lack access, especially to heat for cooking and to mechanical power in rural and remote areas. Unless massive efforts are made to expand the range, quality, and quantity of energy services available to the poor, countries are unlikely to achieve their development aspirations.






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