By 2020, it is anticipated that the price of wind and solar energy will be equal to or even less than the cost of fossil fuels.
This cheap clean energy would have obvious environmental benefits, but it is also significant because it provides poor communities in developing countries, more specifically in Asia and Africa, with the opportunity to connect to the power grid, in some cases for the first time.
Slow but Constant Progress
A large amount of Africa’s population continues to remain without electricity. According to a World Bank article published last year, 500 million people in African countries do not have any electricity, which is down from the 600 million that Reuters reported in 2016.
Of that 600 million, Reuters found 10 percent utilized sustainable means to get their electricity. While the progress has been slow, the continuing decrease in the cost of clean energy means that the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of universal access to electricity by 2030 will be more obtainable.
As cheap clean energy becomes more competitive with fossil fuels, businesses and other countries have invested in developing infrastructure in African countries so that they can utilize sustainable energy.
One recent example of this assistance occurred last August when France gave Kenya $36 million in order to construct 23 mini-grid systems for wind and solar energy. Due to this action, businesses and homes in these poor communities will be able to utilize electricity to spur development in multiple ways as the price of renewable energy continues to fall.
Efforts to Provide Jobs
In 2017, the renewable energy sector provided 9.8 million jobs around the world, with jobs in solar energy being the largest employer, according to a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency; this number demonstrated an increase from the previous year. Furthermore, the Director-General of IRENA, Adnan Z. Amin, predicts that by 2030, the renewable energy sector could employ around 24 million people.
More Light, More Time to Study
Having electricity at home gives families the opportunity to use technology they previously would not have had access to. For example, families in Mali could charge their phones at home, and use other devices such as radio and television.
Another positive impact that people may not often consider is that access to electricity makes it easier for people to stay up later, and as a result get more work done. This is particularly beneficial in the case of students, who can have more time to finish their homework using light from electricity.
As described in one article by The World Bank, it was generally reported that teachers in Mali noticed their students improve in classes after they gained access to electricity through solar power.
Business Advantages
Cheap clean energy makes it easier for businesses to stay open longer, and work more efficiently. For example, small restaurants can use electricity to power freezers and refrigerators and therefore remain open longer hours. More specifically, after Mali installed a solar energy plant in one region of the country, women were able to use the electricity to create a processing unit for their local produce.
Overall, the introduction of solar grids and other cheap clean energy is promising for the continuing development of African countries. By far, solar energy continues to be the cheapest form of clean energy. A 2017 report from IRENA found the cost of electricity from solar power fell almost 70 percent between the years 2010 and 2016.
As technology continues to advance and the prices of clean energy continue to fall, electricity can finally reach these poorer communities and make a difference in the lives of the people who inhabit them.
– Jennifer Jones
Photo: Flickr
Crucial Developments in Sustainable Agriculture in Sierra Leone
Agriculture is the economic and cultural mainstay of Sierra Leone — rice and cassava, drought-tolerant crops, are staples in a typical Sierra Leonean diet. Although agriculture is crucial, sustainable agriculture in Sierra Leone is unfortunately inadequate.
USAID expresses agriculture as the “pillar of economic and cultural relevance” in Sierra Leone. About 60 percent of the labor force is based in subsistence farming, a system in which farmers grow enough food to feed their own families. Sustainable agriculture in Sierra Leone is behind due to lack of diversification, labor shortages and soil infertility. Fortunately, investing in sustainable agriculture can be accomplished through integrated agriculture systems.
Integrated Agricultural System
The integrated agricultural system, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, adopts a mixture of diverse crucial crops (from pasture to fish), increases production and improves access to markets. Sustainable agriculture in Sierra Leone will benefit people as diversification of farming and fishing practices will stabilize food security and decrease malnutrition.
Diversification of Staple Foods
Rice is an important staple in Sierra Leone meals. To establish sustainable agriculture in Sierra Leone, people need to ease their dependency on rice and alternate it with other crops, such as yams, sweet potatoes and cassava. The reason for this diversification is to decrease food imports in hopes of promoting local and sustainable alternatives. The high consumption of rice is not produced fast enough to meet demand, hence the emphasis of other crops can help reduce malnutrition, boost food security and decrease dependency on neighboring countries for money.
Sustainable Agriculture Outcomes
By promoting sustainable agriculture in Sierra Leone, diversifying agriculture and improving infrastructure, food security in the nation will most likely improve. Improving infrastructure in Sierra Leone will also allow rural communities to access urban areas and food security.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) seeks to establish sustainable agriculture in Sierra Leone through responsible development. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Sierra Leone has very high potential in fostering agricultural production that can decrease malnutrition and promote food security. In order for Sierra Leone to achieve such aspirations, both the community and government need to strengthen ties and develop resources and responses to food demands.
Sustained Effort
WHO also suggests utilizing the terrain and planting new crops that will provide nutrients for the people, educating communities on practical agricultural knowledge and fostering skills to increase access to markets.
There is much-needed reform and plans to establish sustainable agriculture in Sierra Leone, and the development and implementation of these agendas can bolster the country against poverty and malnutrition. With several organizations, communities and government officials working towards sustainable agriculture, Sierra Leone will most likely witness beneficial (and substantial) progress.
– Jennifer Serrato
Photo: Flickr
The Growth of Credit Access in Ecuador
According to the U.S. Department of State, 10 tax laws were passed in Ecuador from 2006 to 2012, all working to help credit accessibility and the economy. An estimated 5,000 new jobs will be created in 2015 to 2019 from finance programs.
The Programs
The National Program for Finance, Entrepreneurship and Economic Solidarity (PNFPEES), established in 2009, works to help people in high-poverty areas gain credit access in Ecuador by providing loans. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loaned $50 million to help employment opportunities grow and to expand microcredit, mainly for women with low income. IDB is also working to increase credit access in poverty-ridden areas of Ecuador by 60 percent.
World Council of Credit Unions, Inc. (WOCCU) works to help extend credit to those who are poor or low-income clients. WOCCU established three programs to help grow access to credit:
WOCCU and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) built the three programs on past designs and determined the best way to further credit access in Ecuador.
CREER has been one of the most effective programs for an increase in credit access in Ecuador. According to WOCCU, CREER uses five 16- to 24-week cycles of loans. The first loan starts at $200 and can then be increased in $100 increments up to $600 if they are paid off by the end of the cycles. Furthermore, this program is involved with four different credit unions, helping people to reach an all-time high of self-sufficiency at 168 percent.
How the Programs Help Women
According to WOCCU, 48 percent of the clients of these programs are women, with more than 200,000 registered accounts. The SCWE program works to help women who are capable of working with microenterprise but do not have the necessary assets to be successful.
In the villages, credit unions work with 20 to 25 members who want access to credit and loans. Part of the CREER program from WOCCU found that the women requested — and demonstrated the ability to pay off — higher loan amounts than the standard $60 to $300. The credit unions noticed the women’s potential and raised the loan amounts. Many of these women and other persons in low-income areas had an option to graduate from the credit unions, which allowed them access to loans of anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000.
The mix of these programs from USAID and other organizations have worked successfully to expand credit access in Ecuador for not only women but also people who live in low-income areas. All of these programs give people a chance to have credit and take out loans that they might not otherwise have access to.
– Amber Duffus
Photo: Flickr
Sustainable Agriculture in Myanmar Could Improve Economy
The potential for Myanmar’s agriculture to improve is strong. Though the country has one of the lowest yields in Southeast Asia, Myanmar also has some of the lowest labor costs. In order to capitalize on the opportunities provided by the current economic climate, Myanmar’s government has created a set of agricultural policies to “establish a peaceful, modern and developed country.” The 12 policies focus on furthering development, protecting and educating farmers and reducing poverty through the agriculture industry.
Sustainable agriculture in Myanmar is pioneered by a large population of small-scale rural farmers. Approximately 70 percent of the country’s population depends on agriculture for food and income, and the government is making an effort to support this population through The Law of Protection of the Farmer Rights and Enhancement of their Benefits. The law was enacted in 2013 and a Leading Body was appointed to assist Burmese farmers and enforce the regulations under the law. The Leading Body is in charge of giving loans, ensuring that farmers get reasonable payment for their products and importing technology, fertilizers, seeds, pesticides and other necessary provisions.
At this time, Myanmar’s biggest agricultural export is rice. According to the Ministry of Commerce, the demand for rice produced in Myanmar is the highest it has been in 50 years. However, other major rice exporters in Southeast Asia—such as Thailand and Cambodia—are taking advantage of the rising demand for high-quality rice. Myanmar has previously capitalized on exporting to low-quality markets and thus has a history of outputting low-quality products. Going forward, sustainable agriculture in Myanmar will only continue to improve if the quality of the industry’s products improves. As the industry evolves, new strains of higher-quality rice and other cereals are slowly being introduced to Burmese farms.
Many opportunities are arising to continue the development of sustainable agriculture in Myanmar. As working conditions improve and the industry grows, Myanmar’s residents are looking at an improvement of the country’s overall economic wellness.
– Anna Sheps
Photo: Flickr
Infrastructure in Montenegro Benefiting from Green Technology
The Balkan nation of Montenegro has undergone rapid economic development in recent years. While Montenegro has been largely successful in the 10 years since it declared independence from Serbia, infrastructure in Montenegro continues to face problems of inefficiency. Nowhere are these problems more apparent than in the highway system and the building stock. That being said, steps are being taken to address these problems and ensure that these issues do not hinder Montenegrin progress as time goes on.
The first major issue is the fact that Montenegro’s roads and highways are not all up to the task of connecting all the areas of the rapidly developing country. Existing roads are in disrepair and often take long or inefficient routes to connect two points. Additionally, there remain certain areas of the country that are not yet serviced by major road networks. This wastes fuel and makes travel to other parts of the country virtually impossible for some Montenegrins.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development aims to fix these issues by providing a total of €25 million to, directly and indirectly, support an overhaul of the country’s roads and highways. These improvements will make travel safer, easier and more accessible to more of the Montenegrin population.
The second challenge that Montenegro will face going forward is its aging building stock. Montenegrin cities are often full of Soviet-era “panelak” or panel-style buildings. These were almost all built prior to 1990 and were only built to last for about 30 years, and many of the buildings were already in varying states of disrepair by the time the regime collapsed.
These buildings are also incredibly inefficient to heat. While replacing them all at once is virtually impossible, alternative ways to retrofit them, prolong their lifespans and make them more energy-efficient are taking hold. Along with traditional improvements, adding green roofs to these buildings is becoming popular.
In addition to being nice amenities, studies have shown that green roofs are able to significantly reduce the amount of heat that radiates from a building via the roof. This helps to keep most of the heat in the residences, where it should be, and reduce overall energy usage. This promises to go a long way towards promoting green infrastructure in Montenegro as well.
Some infrastructure in Montenegro has a long way to go before it catches up with the rest of the country. That being said, improvements are underway. While still less than ideal, Montenegrin infrastructure can be expected to undergo major improvements as the economy continues to develop, making it more environmentally friendly while still improving everyday life and bringing greater convenience to many Montenegrins.
– Michaela Downey
Photo: Flickr
Sustainable Agriculture in Macedonia Boosted by Training Programs
Sustainable agriculture in Macedonia has generated major interest recently. The country’s varied and often rugged terrain means that farming can be rather unpredictable, but it also means that many farmers are eager to learn about new techniques and technologies that can make their lives easier and help to improve crop yields.
There are, of course, some obstacles to promoting sustainable agriculture in Macedonia, but they are comparatively few. The main issue is that pastureland is state-owned and tends to be in poor condition. The other major obstacle is that the vast majority of farms are relatively small, and so it is often difficult for farmers to attain economies of scale that can help them compete and save them money.
That being said, the United Nations Development Programme and other actors are taking many steps to promote sustainable agriculture in Macedonia. The high degree of international involvement has created what is essentially a multi-pronged approach.
The U.N. recently organized a series of training programs for farmers from Macedonia and other Eurasian countries to introduce them to more sustainable practices, such as selecting crops that are appropriate for the environment and relying less on wasteful irrigation practices. The training also included tips on how to save money and stay competitive in the global economy, even for very small farms.
Many of those present said that not only did they appreciate the advice they were being given, but also the chance to connect with farmers from other countries and share their experiences. Notably, some of the techniques that the farmers were trained in were actually developed by fellow attendees.
The farmers were also educated about grants and subsidies available to them if they are interested in implementing more sustainable practices. The availability of financial assistance will prove key to promoting sustainable agriculture in Macedonia, as the main obstacle for many of these farmers is the high cost of switching to some of these practices.
In addition to international actors, there are also many NGOs working to promote sustainable agriculture in Macedonia. Sustainable Agriculture for Sustainable Balkans is one such organization. Working together with the EU, it focuses primarily on collecting and distributing information that can help farmers make informed decisions about which techniques they might like to implement on their own farms.
CeProSARD is another key player promoting sustainable agriculture in Macedonia. Its mission is rural development, and in a country like Macedonia, that goes hand in hand with agriculture. In addition to funding research on best practices, CeProSARD also networks with farmers and other key stakeholders and advocates for meaningful change.
Macedonia is a good example of a country where external support can really help to promote change. The case of Macedonia demonstrates that key stakeholders are more often than not aware of an issue and want to rectify it, but may need guidance or support in order to do so. Supporting these actors is an easy way for the international community to bring about major improvements quickly and easily.
– Michaela Downey
Photo: Flickr
Addressing the Success of Humanitarian Aid to Equatorial Guinea
However, this massive wealth is distributed unevenly, and while it may be one of the region’s most powerful oil producers, very few benefit from the oil riches. Its authoritarian government has a streak of terrible human rights abuses, such as human trafficking. Furthermore, because less than half of the population has access to clean drinking water, it often appears as if no significant changes are coming about from humanitarian aid to Equatorial Guinea.
However, this does not mean that there are no groups undertaking vast projects with hopes of improving the country. For example, in 2016 the African Development Bank Group approved a grant of $3.04 million to strengthen the economic connections of Central African countries. This project allowed the creation of a bridge over the Ntem river which will link Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. By reducing transport costs and times, it positively improves the economic ability and is a successful example of humanitarian aid to Equatorial Guinea.
Economic projects are a significant form of success in humanitarian aid to Equatorial Guinea. For example, in 2009 the African Development Bank Group signed a loan and grant agreement in the country worth up to $70 million. $40 million was used to finance a program to train young workers in middle and senior management in different regions.
With another $15 million, Equatorial Guinea supported the development of healthcare, which particularly benefited pregnant women and children under five years of age. By increasing productivity in all sectors, Equatorial Guinea hopes to improve economic growth which will hopefully improve human development and stability.
In 2006, another program, the Social Needs Fund, focused on addressing infrastructure for the poor. While resources may exist to alleviate poverty, there were few mechanisms to implement these resources. Funded by USAID, it assisted the government to improve social planning and investments, specifically for programs in the Ministry of Health, Education and Women’s Affairs. By focusing on different ministries, USAID was able to examine expenditures and monitor budgets to create more effective programs in each sector.
With continued efforts and foreign support, Equatorial Guinea continues to improve gradually. Development projects have helped push economic growth and have created a more stable and equal society in which the poor can navigate with greater ability.
– Nick McGuire
Photo: Flickr
Solar Steam Energy in South Africa Creating Jobs and Stability
In South Africa’s largest province, the Northern Cape, the arrival of renewable solar steam energy brought jobs and a stable source of power. The first plant opened in 2015 and since then, construction began on two more plants to provide solar steam energy in South Africa, moving the country away from its historical reliance on coal power in a region with high unemployment rates.
Coal
South African coal traditionally produces more than 90 percent of the country’s electricity, causing the country to be the 12th highest greenhouse gas emitter in the world. However, these new plants position South Africa to reach its 2015 Paris Agreement promise to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and additionally provide nearly the entire population of the Northern Cape province with renewable energy.
Solar Steam Energy
The value solar steam energy in South Africa has for the economic growth of its people is especially noteworthy. In the Northern Cape province, where a high poverty rate and one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world burdens the population, the construction of the three plants created around 3,000 temporary jobs and over 150 permanent positions. Further, partial ownership of each power plant is held by the local community through community trusts. These community trusts support a long-term growth of the economy, opportunities for education and creation of jobs in South Africa’s expanding solar field.
Solar steam energy yields environmental benefits similar to other sources of renewable energy, including decreasing harmful carbon dioxide emissions. Using the sun’s energy and reflective mirrors, the solar steam power plants concentrate energy and direct it toward a receiver, where it turns to steam. The steam energy is converted through a turbine and produces electricity by powering a generator; however, there is an advantage to solar steam energy above other forms of renewable energy: these power systems are also capable of storing energy to use during times of no direct sunlight.
Worthwhile Stability
Pofadder, South Africa, the site of two of the plants, saw 325 days of sun in 2017 allowing storage of large amounts of energy. While costlier, the storage capacity enables solar steam to supply stable energy that wind turbines and traditional solar powered energy are unable to provide. A worthwhile ability considering South Africa dealt with power shortages in years prior to these plants, but now has an excess of energy.
U.N. Climate Change Conference
Another victory for solar steam energy in South Africa occurred at the 2017 U.N. Climate Change Conference, COP23, in Bonn, Germany. At the conference, the first operating plant, KaXu Solar One, won a Momentum of Change award. This prestigious award is presented to projects that help both the planet and the people by making strides toward reaching the U.N. Sustainable Development goals.
The success of these first plants in the Northern Cape province has a wider effect on solar steam energy in South Africa. Other provinces are being evaluated for future plants, furthering the reach of renewable energy and creation of jobs, and could eventually lead to the development of projects across the African continent.
– Hayley Herzog
Photo: Flickr
US Benefits From Foreign Aid to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Many may ask how the U.S. benefits from foreign aid to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and fortunately, the list of reasons is a lengthy one. Despite its wealth in natural resources, and the resulting potential for prosperity, the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains one of the poorest and least stable regions in Africa. Political and economic instability, in turn, has strained the country’s already weakened institutions, leaving citizens of the Congo to suffer under circumstances that cry out for foreign assistance.
Around nine in 10 citizens still lack basic necessities, with a USAID report showing that over 7.5 million members of the Congo require humanitarian aid. Clearly, the need for assistance to the Congo is strong; yet, unbeknownst to many Americans, there are also reasons why the U.S. benefits from foreign aid to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Foreign Aid Reduces Insecurity in the Congo and Increases American National Security
One way in which the U.S. benefits from foreign aid to the Democratic Republic of the Congo is in reduced instability in the nation and the resulting threat it poses to United States interests abroad. General James Jones and Admiral Mike Mullen make this point in an op-ed for Politico, in which they discuss how instability opens nations to terrorist exploitation.
“A host of international terrorist groups,” they write, “Al Qaeda, Al Shabaab, Boko Haram and ISIS, among others — have taken root in highly fragile regions and countries with shared characteristics, such as corruption and poor governance, weak institutions, high poverty and inequality, widespread indignity and low quality of life for ordinary citizens.”
If the United States increased aid to the Congo to reduce instability, it would strengthen the nation and leave it less vulnerable to terrorist attack and the dark possibilities of terrorists taking root in the country and utilizing its abundance of natural resources.
Foreign Aid Spurs Economic Growth in the Congo and Increases Trade with the United States
The United States ratified a bilateral investment treaty with the Congo in 1984, and trade between the countries has continued throughout the new millennium. The United States mainly receives imports in petroleum and exports everything from machinery to poultry, medical devices and American-made automobiles.
Increasing foreign aid to the Congo would, in turn, create a population with more disposable income and greater buying power, expanding the market for imports from the United States, strengthening America’s agricultural, auto, and medical industries and enhancing the prosperity of millions of blue-collar workers. This is an example of how U.S. benefits from foreign aid to the Democratic Republic of the Congo goes beyond simply being an act of charity.
Foreign Aid Improves the Reputation of the United States
Another reason the U.S. benefits from foreign aid to the Democratic Republic of the Congo is because currently, the U.S. has a significant image problem around the world, one that has far-reaching implications for its economic development and military programs. Perceptions of the U.S. among developed and developing nations has steadily declined for over a decade, with only Russia and Israel expressing increasing approval of the United States in the past year.
Foreign aid to developing countries not only helps the image of the United States among the Congolese but also throughout the world. This is beneficial to the U.S. since it can mean greater support from other countries on a broad range of issues, including trade, national security, and other strategic priorities.
Foreign aid might even lead to greater willingness on the part of other countries to aid the United States in times of national crisis, such as during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when 95 nations from around the world offered foreign aid themselves to the United States.
– Shane Summers
Photo: Flickr
President Michelle Bachelet: A Champion for Women’s Rights in Chile
President Michelle Bachelet of Chile leaves office in March 2018. During her two terms as president, Bachelet worked tirelessly to advance women’s rights in Chile. She leaves a legacy of legislative victories in the fight for gender equality.
Bachelet entered government as an advisor in the Health Ministry. She served as Chile’s first female health minister in 2002 and its first female defense minister in 2002. She became Chile’s president in 2006. Her victory depended on the support of women — Bachelet’s victory was the first time a majority of women in Chile supported a left-of-center presidential candidate.
Time in Office
During her first term as president, Bachelet championed legislation to further women’s rights in Chile. She passed protections for victims of domestic violence, fought workplace discrimination, reformed the pension system to be fairer to women, gave low-income mothers better access to childcare and introduced universal access to emergency contraception.
Chile’s conservative governing coalition strongly opposed Bachelet’s plan to expand availability of emergency contraception. Bachelet avoided Congress by issuing executive orders to mandate that public clinics offer free emergency contraception. Her conservative congressional challengers won an appeal in the Constitutional Court, causing Bachelet to instead pursue legislative approval. The bill was popular with the public and supported through mass demonstrations against the court’s ruling. Bolstered by public approval, Bachelet fast-tracked the bill and it was approved in 2010.
Between Presidencies
Bachelet left office in 2010, unable to run for a second consecutive term due to constitutional limitations. She became the first Executive Director of the newly created U.N. Women. As the head of the organization, Bachelet worked to realize U.N. Women’s agenda — ending violence against women, economically empowering women, including women in global peace and security planning, increasing the number of women in leadership positions and influencing countries to focus national policies and budgets on increasing gender equity.
Return to Politics
Bachelet then returned to politics, winning a second term as president of Chile in 2013. In her second term, Bachelet created the Ministry of Women and Gender Equality. She also passed legislation requiring that women make up 40 percent of candidates running for an elected office.
In 2017, the Constitutional Court of Chile ruled in favor of a reproductive rights bill introduced by Bachelet. The bill legalizes abortions in extreme cases — abortions were previously illegal in all instances. Bachelet’s bill was bolstered by public support — 70 percent of Chileans approved of the legislation.
A Strong Legacy and Continued Impact
After exiting office in March 2018, Bachelet will start as Board Chair of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health where she will continue to advocate for women’s rights in Chile.
“Promoting progress towards building a more equitable and just world, that guarantees the rights of women and girls, is more than a challenge,” says Bachelet. “It’s a necessity and an obligation.”
– Katherine Parks
Photo: Flickr
Cheap Clean Energy Leads to More Electricity in Developing Countries
By 2020, it is anticipated that the price of wind and solar energy will be equal to or even less than the cost of fossil fuels.
This cheap clean energy would have obvious environmental benefits, but it is also significant because it provides poor communities in developing countries, more specifically in Asia and Africa, with the opportunity to connect to the power grid, in some cases for the first time.
Slow but Constant Progress
A large amount of Africa’s population continues to remain without electricity. According to a World Bank article published last year, 500 million people in African countries do not have any electricity, which is down from the 600 million that Reuters reported in 2016.
Of that 600 million, Reuters found 10 percent utilized sustainable means to get their electricity. While the progress has been slow, the continuing decrease in the cost of clean energy means that the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of universal access to electricity by 2030 will be more obtainable.
As cheap clean energy becomes more competitive with fossil fuels, businesses and other countries have invested in developing infrastructure in African countries so that they can utilize sustainable energy.
One recent example of this assistance occurred last August when France gave Kenya $36 million in order to construct 23 mini-grid systems for wind and solar energy. Due to this action, businesses and homes in these poor communities will be able to utilize electricity to spur development in multiple ways as the price of renewable energy continues to fall.
Efforts to Provide Jobs
In 2017, the renewable energy sector provided 9.8 million jobs around the world, with jobs in solar energy being the largest employer, according to a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency; this number demonstrated an increase from the previous year. Furthermore, the Director-General of IRENA, Adnan Z. Amin, predicts that by 2030, the renewable energy sector could employ around 24 million people.
More Light, More Time to Study
Having electricity at home gives families the opportunity to use technology they previously would not have had access to. For example, families in Mali could charge their phones at home, and use other devices such as radio and television.
Another positive impact that people may not often consider is that access to electricity makes it easier for people to stay up later, and as a result get more work done. This is particularly beneficial in the case of students, who can have more time to finish their homework using light from electricity.
As described in one article by The World Bank, it was generally reported that teachers in Mali noticed their students improve in classes after they gained access to electricity through solar power.
Business Advantages
Cheap clean energy makes it easier for businesses to stay open longer, and work more efficiently. For example, small restaurants can use electricity to power freezers and refrigerators and therefore remain open longer hours. More specifically, after Mali installed a solar energy plant in one region of the country, women were able to use the electricity to create a processing unit for their local produce.
Overall, the introduction of solar grids and other cheap clean energy is promising for the continuing development of African countries. By far, solar energy continues to be the cheapest form of clean energy. A 2017 report from IRENA found the cost of electricity from solar power fell almost 70 percent between the years 2010 and 2016.
As technology continues to advance and the prices of clean energy continue to fall, electricity can finally reach these poorer communities and make a difference in the lives of the people who inhabit them.
– Jennifer Jones
Photo: Flickr