Inaccessible affordable energy: Bane of development

The Chief Executive Officer and Special Representative to the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, Ms Rachel Kyte, has observed that majority of the world’s population are missing out on education, health, jobs and broader economic opportunities because they do not have access to clean, affordable energy.

“Women populations are especially vulnerable to energy poverty, climate impacts and other extreme economic challenges; yet they lack a voice, finance and political capacity to change their situation,” she stated.

Ms Kyte made the observation at the fourth Sustainable Energy for All Forum (SEForAll) in Lisbon, Portugal.

Representatives of governments, businesses, civil society and international organisations are taking part in the forum under the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Seven and the Paris Climate Agreement accelerating progress on global sustainable energy goals.

The forum, which is on the theme: “Leaving No One Behind,” is aimed at closing the energy gap and ensuring the inclusion of women and the poor in an effort to achieve universal access to sustainable energy services.

Agenda

According to Ms Kyte, the forum’s agenda included sharing the latest evidence of scalable innovations in providing electricity access, accelerating renewable energy and improving energy efficiency in all corners of the world.

“It will shine a spotlight on the urgency for bringing affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy to underserved populations, communities and regions that are at risk of being left behind in the global clean energy transition,” she stated.

Significance

Organisers of the forum, SEForAll, said advancing gender equality, social inclusion and women’s empowerment in a sustainable energy sector would create business opportunities and further help secure a fair energy transition that would leave no one behind in the growth and development chain.

A highlight of the forum will be the launch of a 2018 Global Tracking Framework report, which benchmarks annual progress towards achieving universal access to modern energy services, doubling renewable energy and improving energy efficiency by 2030.

Ghana’s Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama, will be speaking on the topic: “Deep Dive, Clean Fuels for All.”