Ensuring equity in distribution along with underscoring the need for more efficient and environmental friendly energy utilization in the developed industrialized countries is as significant as to provide easy access of energy by reducing the sharp imbalances in energy consumption among the developed and developing countries , within the urban and rural and between the rich and poor people .A rigorous Environmental Impact Review process should be established for transparent assessments of environmental and social impacts linked within the energy sector .The assessment needs to be carried out by independent auditors using same international standards all across the world.

 Public Participation is also an important component for a comprehensive approach for tackling the energy security issues .Various socio-economic, cultural and topographical factors need to be taken into account to address the multi-dimensional and cultural factors such as : people’s needs and priorities , addressing the environmental concerns at all levels ,identifying all stakeholders ,improving the energy efficiency ,social audit from the urban and rural people etc.

While, Liberalization or deregulation and privatization of the energy sector and concerns to global security may give rise to many debatable issues but undoubtedly there is need for more efficient and environmental friendly energy utilization in the developed industrialized countries .Funding ,technology transfer and capacity building in the energy sector of the developing countries also needs attention.

The strategy should address integrated environmental friendly energy plans for reconciling the challenges of climate change, access to energy and security of energy supply. The developed countries are required to be more socially responsible and be more supportive towards developing countries so that the energy needs of the developing countries and their people are met.

The human development and energy use are intrinsically linked: energy is development, because without energy to fuel industry and support business hospitals and schools, there can be no economic or social progress. With this in mind, it is of concern that a large part of the global population is still without access to basic sources of energy and close to 2 billion people lack electricity.

Therefore, according to me the mountainous energy security challenge that should be prioritized in this world is ; ENERGY POVERTY :the Hidden energy crisis. Energy poverty is a lack of access to modern energy services. These services are defined as household access to electricity and clean cooking facilities (e.g. fuels and stoves that do not cause air pollution in houses).  It refers to the situation of large numbers of people in developing countries whose well-being is negatively affected by very low consumption of energy, use of dirty or polluting fuels, and excessive time spent collecting fuel to meet basic needs. It is inversely related to access to modern energy services, although improving access is only one factor in efforts to reduce energy poverty.

The hidden crisis of energy poverty condemns billions of men, women and children in the developing world to continue to live in absolute poverty because they have no access to modern energy services; energy which is taken for granted in the developed world at the flick of a switch or the press of a button. Over 1.6 billion people – almost one third of humanity – have no electricity. This means they have no light in the evening, limited access to radio and modern communications, inadequate education and health facilities, and not enough power for their work and businesses.

Worldwide, more than 3 billion people depend on dirty, harmful solid fuels to meet their most basic energy need, cooking. 2.5 billion cook with biomass (i.e. wood, dung and agricultural residues) and over half a billion cook with coal.

The international community recognizes a number of basic rights: the right to water, the right to food, the right to health, the right to adequate housing, the right to gain a living by work and the right to take part in cultural life. Missing from this list is the right to energy. Yet, everyone needs energy to cook food, to heat the home, to earn a living, to benefit from good health and education services. Energy poverty denies people a basic standard of living which should be available for all.

Thus, we all should look forward to eradicate this issue of ENERGY POVERTY  and It’s Time To Flip The Switch On Energy Poverty.

Image Source :

http://cdn.downtoearth.org.in/dte/userfiles/images/energy-poverty.jpg

According to various studies, the broad energy consumption and usage pattern may be to an extent is similar in most developing countries ,there would be some variation in specific end uses and energy forms used from one topographical region to the other representing different agro climatic zones and ecosystems within a country. This brings out the need for proper energy assessment, planning, production, consumption and management at all levels and for all stakeholders. The developing countries not only have to increase their commercial energy production in the upcoming years by using renewable sources but also have to reduce the disparities within their own rich and poor to provide easy energy availability and accessibility to all in a sustainable way.

Region based micro level planning in an inclusively integrated manner is required for meeting the energy needs for development , thus at all levels of production and consumption the renewable energy resources have to be included.  Attaining lower energy intensity could be one of the objectives along with Decarbonizing of the national and regional economies. This will require the development of renewable energies as well as deployment of new technologies such as sequestration of carbon in cleaner fossil fuel systems, the commercialization of bio fuels and development of new forests and afforestation at a larger level.

However,  Energy availability and accessibility are very significant for energy security and it is very important for the society to accept and adopt major changes in areas like transportation, housing , urbanization and playing their own individual parts .The evolution of human behavior must also play a very constructive role in attaining Energy security to one and all .

Energy security and its present day scenario reveals sharp contrast between the production and consumption patterns of developing and developed countries as well as between rural and urban areas within the developing countries.

In 2016 while total world energy came from 80% fossil fuels, 10% biofuels, 5% nuclear and 5% renewable (hydro, wind, solar, geothermal), only 18% of that total world energy was in the form of electricity.^[1] Most of the other 82% was used for heat and transportation. But still the divide between developing and developed countries have seemed to broaden over the years, the energy needs and requirements of developing countries are not met by them and thus slowing their progress towards prosperity.

Total energy consumption in low developing countries occurs mainly in household and commercial sectors. Most of the countries derive a high share of household fuels from traditional fuels- firewood, manure, draught and agricultural wastes which not only increases their energy losses but also contributes in pollution and health related issues. Though the per capita energy consumption is much lower as compared to developed countries, in future the relative energy consumption and thus carbon dioxide emissions of the developing countries are bound to increase as they develop further.

An important issue in this whole debate is that a dichotomy exists within the developing countries as well: between rural and urban areas and between the rural rich and the rural poor. The commercial energy is consumed in the urban areas in industrial sectors and for transportation whereas the rural areas in developing countries get a very small share of the available commercial energy which they predominantly use in agricultural sectors. This energy in-security or so called energy scarcity in the rural areas of developing countries affects the employment opportunities and thus causing large scale urban migration and putting more strain on the limited energy resources in the urban areas.

An important argument in this debate is that energy is not used efficiently in both rural and urban areas in developing countries which results in higher per capita increase in energy consumption than per capita increase in gross domestic product. This contributes to never ending vicious cycle and further impacting the natural environment.

While the way of living of developed countries or the western way of lifestyle as often called; directly, indirectly and remotely impact the complex ecosystem of this planet. The energy production, consumption along with the way of using natural resources, economic policies and governance of developed countries  have a close relationship with the same corresponding issues of the developing countries .

Responsibility, risks and other dangers, which are ought to be shared equally among the nations and regions of the Earth are however not shared.

References :

[1]  http://www.shell.com/energy-and-innovation/the-energy-future/scenarios/shell-scenarios-energy-models/world-energy-model/_jcr_content/par/textimage.stream/1510344160326/d62f12b8fe88e85dc3349c38b1ca5e44cc22c5ccc6f70beed634020cfb527c82/shell-world-energy-model.pdf

Energy undoubtedly has the oldest history. Even before the homo sapiens could read and write, fire was discovered and used for hunting ,scaring wild animals ,cooking ,fighting the winters and many other activities .Therefore ,it won’t be wrong to say that fire was the greatest energy invention that humankind has ever made and wood was the main fuel for a long time.  Over the period of time with new developments and innovations, it was the Industrial Revolution of Great Britain that marks a major turning point in history; almost every aspect of daily life was influenced in some way and the energy situation was changed considerably.

To more of its credit, Industrial Revolution not only increased the energy consumption options availability to humanity for development but on the other hand it also paved the way for global disparity and  wide spread inequity in future energy production, availability, accessibility, consumption and the environmental issues relating to energy.

In today’s world, it won’t be wrong to say that energy is the most important ingredient as well as constraint in development. Energy shortages in the 1970s hindered the pace of development of mainly the poor countries. The 1970s energy crisis was a period when the major industrial countries of the world, particularly the United States, Canada, Western Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, faced substantial petroleum shortages, real and perceived, as well as elevated prices. The two worst crises of this period were the 1973 oil crisis and the 1979 energy crisis, when the Yom Kippur War and the Iranian Revolution triggered interruptions in Middle Eastern oil exports.^[1]

Not taking a clue from that period, the developing countries continued their irresistible dependence on non-commercial biomass resources of wood and other non-renewable sources of energy, which has hit the rural poor in those countries the hardest. Can you even think of how pathetic it could get when there is lack of modern energy services for the poor in their daily life?  It makes multiplies the effect of the poverty and it further multiplies their probability of escaping from poverty.

The energy security debate between developed and developing countries have made serious allegations on developed countries as they are highly unfair and biased while addressing the challenges of the developing countries. The biggest challenge today is to not only improve the energy availability but also its access to modern energy services for least developed countries and specially to those people who are the last ones standing in the last line .This has to be done in ways that are sustainably accessible, available and affordable that address energy security concerns and cause the least harm to local and environmental damages.

Environmental Attitude is a psychological tendency with a certain degree of favor or disfavor associated while evaluating the environment. The development of Environmental Attitude requires different time frames for different persons based on their culture, socio-economic conditions, ideologies and consciousness associated with environmental issues. But it is very essential to note that once an Environmental Attitude that too a healthy one is developed then, it may certainly help us to get in tune our mind with our actions towards the environment.

Structure of Environmental Attitude is a multidimensional construct and can have three components :

1. Cognitive Environmental Attitude

It is associated with our thinking process which includes our thoughts, values, beliefs, learning towards the environment. The development of Cognitive Environmental Attitude helps us to shape our opinions and viewpoints towards conservation of natural environment.

2. Affective Environmental Attitude

It is linked with our emotions and thus, it is very important to evolve this Environmental Attitude.  As once our emotional cords are linked with the environmental concerns, then we can definitely help ourselves to stop environmental degradation which mostly guided by our selfish aims.

3. Conative Environmental Attitude

It involves our will-impulse, desire or resolve which leads to shaping of our behavior towards the natural environment. Our actions towards the environment are extremely important as they categorically are defining our future on this planet called Earth.

In this era of global environmental upheaval including concerns like Global Warming, Climate Change, increase in the sea levels, rise in pollution, environmental degradation etc. , one of the promising ways that one person can contribute individually is by developing all components of Environmental Attitude .

The building of Environmental Attitude will also make the person to be ethically connected to the environmental issues and thus, he can think, feel and act in his individual capacity to solve this catastrophic problem.

Let’s examine How future Climate change will affect the poor?

 Unpredictable weather-

 The frequent occurrence of floods, famines, droughts, and overall rise in the temperatures is severely affecting the poor people. These people live on meager incomes and having very less social security insurance and infrastructure, thus are the most unguarded individuals.

Impact on agriculture-

Agriculture is one of the most important economic sectors in developing countries like India where more than half of population is directly, indirectly or remotely dependent on agriculture for their income and unfortunately it is also one of the most sensitive to climate change given its dependence on weather conditions. Non-seasonal rainfalls and less rainfall in the required seasons cause a great distress on the agriculturalists and farmers, causing them to fall into the cycle of debts, pushing them towards Poverty.

Increase in Out-of-Pocket expenditure-

Poor people already spend more income on food and health than other classes. Climate change along with rising prices of basic necessities i.e. Bread, Cloth and Housing and along with Inflation and the increasing spread of communicable diseases and epidemics will drive the vulnerable households into the viscous cycle of poverty again.

Unpredictable weather-

Climate change is leading to the frequent droughts and floods, famines and other disaster hazards. Such natural phenomenon’s have more adverse impact on the poor people as their livelihood gets affected easily and more severely.

Water scarcity-

Water is going to be a depleted resource in the times to come, especially the people living in coastal areas are predicted to be suffering the most. This effect of climate change would also have a direct effect on the economically instable people. Approximately 22 million people faced water scarcity at the end of the twentieth century, and according to projections configured by the IPCC, the number of people likely to endure issues in water sanitation by 2050 is 79 to 178 million.

More strain on poor for mitigation strategies-

The climate risks and natural hazards, disasters also require preparedness but due to low levels of capacity development along with inadequate financial resources, the poor households will feel the extra pressure of mitigation and adaptation .As these people are the most vulnerable to Climate change shocks, it will be more difficult for them to escape poverty.

Climate change hits the poor people the hardest and it is becoming very difficult to eliminate poverty. Therefore, it is very important to have some safety nets and proper adaptation strategies to fight against Climate change keeping in mind its impact on the poorest people .The work underway right now, with a goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030, can help governments lead the way on combating climate change while also working to improve the lives and futures of the least well-off in their countries.