Leading environmental organisation Greenpeace has joined forces with international high street retailer, The Body Shop today, to challenge world governments to provide access to renewable energy for all within ten years, in particular the two billion people who live without any power.
Currently, one third of the world's population live without access to electric lighting or adequate cooking facilities. Everyone has the right to power but many of the world's poorest are already experiencing the devastating impacts of climate change through increased floods, drought and disease, the result of centuries of the world's use of fossil fuel energy.
The two organisations have launched a new study "Power to Tackle Poverty" to provide a framework showing world governments how this ambitious target can be met and are urging G8 leaders to take action following their discussion of renewable energy at their summit in Genoa (20-22 July).
John Morrison, Head of Campaigns of The Body Shop said:
"We are taking on two of the world's most crucial issues, climate change and global poverty, and offering sustainable solutions. If the world's governments commit to our proposals, we stand a good chance of avoiding a potential climate catastrophe, and ensuring the world's poor have access to clean and reliable energy."
Janet Dalziell, Greenpeace project leader said,
"President Bush walked away from the Kyoto treaty, with the excuse that the world's poorest countries are not doing their bit to tackle climate change. But the US and the other rich countries are not only responsible for most of the world's pollution but are funding massive dirty power stations in the developing world. Bush and the other polluters must stop this hypocrisy and switch their aid from dirty power to clean energy to reduce the threat of climate change for all of us and help bring renewable energy to those who have no power at all."
The lack of access to energy is one of the key factors that keeps people trapped in poverty. According to the International Energy Agency, providing modern energy systems that meet basic needs for clean water, health care facilities, heating and lighting is one of the most pressing problems facing humanity today.
Currently much of the developing world's energy requirements are met by kerosene lanterns and inefficient, smoky stoves, which are damaging to health. Increased use of fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas in the developing world will increase the problem of climate change, which is already devastating many lives of poor people. The only way to meet the legitimate needs of 1/3rd of the world is via renewable energy such as wind, solar and small hydro systems. It will mean a massive increase in the size of current renewables industries, and provide a boost for economies the world over.
Anthony Derrick, Director of the organisation, IT Power, which wrote the report, said:
"Greenpeace and The Body Shop have today set out a very ambitious challenge to governments. It is a challenge that can be met provided governments are prepared to demonstrate they have the political will and will make the required capital investments in energy systems for the future, instead of relying on the polluting fossil fuels and nuclear projects that should be left in the past."
Further information:
Contact:
Greenpeace Press Office 020 7865 8255
Shelley Simmons, The Body Shop 01903 844040
James Plastow, IT Power 0118 932 4407
Background information
There are 2 billion people in the world without power - five times the population of Europe who have no access to electric lighting or clean fuels for cooking. Getting people clean and reliable energy necessary for essential needs such as clean water, health care facilities, heating and lighting has been identified by the UN as one of the most pressing problems facing humanity today.
Global warming means more severe extreme weather events like floods and storms. Over the last three years 100,000 people have already been killed by extreme weather events worldwide. Global warming caused by the burning of fossil fuels threatens people's lives all around the world. While the world's poorest use only a fraction of the world's oil, coal and gas, they are likely to suffer most if no action is taken. Rising seas threaten to engulf entire countries in the Indian and Pacific oceans, while the frequency and severity of for floods, storms and droughts is set to increase. If we are going to stop global warming careering out of control we must leave the majority of the world's oil, coal and gas underground.
Developing countries have already installed over one million solar home systems. Renewable energy can provide an affordable and reliable means of getting power to the world's poorest people. It can provide electricity for refrigeration of medical supplies, sterilisation, lighting and telecommunications as well as for radios and water pumps. There are around 150,000 solar home power systems in Kenya, more than 100,000 in China and 60,000 in Indonesia.. Globally, 150,000 health clinics, schools and other communal buildings in developing countries are powered by wind and solar power systems.
The total cost of getting renewable energy to the 2 billion people is estimated to be less than half of the $500+ billion that is likely to be invested over the next decade in fossil fuel power stations and infrastructure in poorer countries. Energy development through fossil fuels would lock poorer countries into a lengthy and damaging dependence on fossil fuels. But with suitable financing, a solar home system could cost just $10 a month. In fact, for just $1.4 billion, clean renewable energy could be supplied to one million schools and health care centres, serving some 600 million people (nearly twice of Europe).
Key organisations such as the World Bank, the United Nations and governments in rich countries must help bring about a radical transformation in energy aid and investment. There is no technical, financial or institutional barriers that cannot be overcome to provide clean renewable energy to so many people. What is needed is a radically different approach to energy development, shifting subsidies and investment and tax breaks from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
