UN Helps Developing Nations Use Clean Energy

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is opening access to clean renewable energy for rural households in developing nations. Impoverished people will now be able to turn in their kerosene lamps and diesel generators for clean renewable energy.

Thanks to the Clean Development Mechanism, registered projects will be able to earn salable credits all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to sustainable development. Furthermore, the CDM enables emission-reduction projects in developing nations to earn certified emission reduction (CER) credits. In an effort to reach the emission targets, as outlined under the Kyoto Protocol, industrialized nations can even trade, sell and use CERs.

The CDM will give communities with no electricity access to renewable electricity generation technologies. As long as 75 per cent of consumers are households, these communities will be able to technology such as solar electric panels.

"This is what the CDM is all about-reducing green gas emission and contributing to a sustainable development," said CDM Executive Board Chair Maosheng Duan.

-Akshika Patel


SOURCE: UN News Centre

UN Moving to Reduce Indoor Pollution in Afghanistan

With 95 percent of its 30million people burning wood and other solid fuels in their homes, Afghanistan is ranked among the top ten nations with the worst indoor pollution. Recently, the UN World Health Organization discovered that 5,400 Afghans die yearly from inhaling smoke due to indoor heating and cooking. Furthermore, the usage of dung and wood for fuel is placing pressure on already diminishing resources. The UN Environment Program (UNEP) revealed that 30 years from now, Afghani forests will no longer exist.

The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, a UN supported program, is pushing 100 million homes to adopt clean stoves and fuels by 2020. By bringing together local metal-smiths, engineers and environmental experts in Bamiyan province, this program has designed prototypes for clean cook stoves. These stoves will cut the estimated 1.6-1.8 million premature deaths each year caused by indoor emissions.

This year is the UN International Year of Sustainable Energy for All. Initiatives such as the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstove contribute to the universal achievement of access to modern energy services and renewable energy. By pursuing projects that focus on sustainable energy services, we may see these goals reached.

-Akshika Patel


SOURCE: UN News Centre

Ban Ki-moon: Private Investment and Universal Energy Access

One in five people lacks access to modern electricity. Three billion people use wood, coal, charcoal or animal waste for cooking and heating. In an attempt to address this huge disparity, business leaders from around the world attended the World Economic Forum's conference on "Ending Energy Poverty" in Davos, Switzerland.

During this conference, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon underlined the necessity of private investment for the achievement of universal and sustainable energy access. Mr.Ban urged those attending to utilize their resources in order to support government and non-public sector relationships. He stressed that by working with global CEOs and investors, the international community can work to improve energy access and enhance efficiency.

Mr.Ban has proposed to the panel his Sustainable Energy for All Initiative. This initiative looks to cement universal access to modern energy services, double the rate of improvement in energy efficiency and increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by 2030. By gaining access to modern energy, developing nations will be able to improve productivity, public health, and education. Mr.Ban said at the conference that,"By providing sustainable energy for all, we can revitalize economic growth, protect the planet, protect the environment and spread the benefits of development more equitably. This can be a triple win."

-Akshika Patel


SOURCE:UN News Centre

Empowerment through Electricity

A growing partnership between the UN and the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) could help in providing electricity to millions of people around the world who lack the means to access energy. Recently, UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon met up with representatives of the NREL to check out sustainable energy innovations in Denver.



Some of these innovations include a solar blanket that can be laid out on the ground during the day, where sunlight can be soaked up and transferred over to batteries to be used when needed. These blankets can then be rolled up and stored at night, preventing theft. Another innovation being developed by the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) is a solar-powered drip irrigation system that can ease the burden of small-scale farmers.



Why the focus on electricity? UN agencies believe that electricity is a perquisite for meeting basic human needs. By providing access to energy resources, people are given a sense of empowerment. Lack of energy also means a lack in food security as irrigation becomes time-consuming and unpredictable due to weather patterns. The less time that it takes getting water means more time spent on agricultural activity and a better chance of producing surpluses to sell in the market.



The end-all goal of providing electricity to energy-poor areas is to ultimately enhance self-reliance. Farmers can start to purchase solar systems through micro-loans and companies like SELF can provide the training to keep projects running in to the future. With access to energy comes new ways to purify water, store vaccines and medications, promote small-scale agriculture, and support community growth.



-Chelsey Dambro



Source: denverpost.com and The Christian Science Monitor