Bhutan

Towards an Energy Plus Approach for the Poor

1, February 2012 Thimphu: The newly launched United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report based on case studies in Asia and the Pacific, calls for a set of "energy plus" services.  The report titled 'Towards an Energy plus Approach for the Poor' talks about access to modern energy required for heating, cooking and electricity for the people from the lower income group. UNDP report confirms that there can be no development without energy, and that poverty cannot be addressed sustainably without paying due attention to energy services. The report adds that the poor need energy to get out of poverty, but energy alone is not enough.

The Resident Representative of UNDP in Bhutan, Claire Van der Vaeren, spoke to the Bhutan Broadcasting Services (BBS) that despite a lot of efforts in trying to promote development of renewable and sustainable energy, there are still several hundreds of millions of people around the world who do not have access to energy or who have access to energy which ultimately kills them. "For example, the use of wood for cooking their food in poor ventilated kitchen will get lung or eye diseases," she said.

In addition, the report finds that "Energy, poverty and heavy reliance on biomass fuels have a disproportionate effect on women and children, who are forced to spend significant time collecting fuel wood and preparing meals in poorly ventilated kitchens." The report further calls for energy access programmes that include a clear focus on women and disadvantaged groups.  It adds that "improved access to energy should be accompanied by measures that generate income or improve livelihoods, which enhances the capacity to pay for energy services."

The report also sets number of policy recommendations for countries such as insertion of renewable and sustainable energy services; and adequately engaging end users and beneficiaries in the development of the programmes and further definition of policy options.

"Other recommendations that I think Bhutan could also benefit from and those are, for example, the linkage between energy sector and other sectors like health and education, and ensuring that the conservation or discussion on policy setting implementation is inclusive of the others sector who benefit from energy services," said the Resident Representative.

As per the report, nearly half the world's population lacks reliable access to modern energy services and depends on wood, charcoal or animal waste for cooking and heating. It says by 2030, household air pollution from biomass use in inefficient stoves is likely to cause more than 1.5 million deaths a year.

To view the interview, please visit http://www.bbs.bt/news/?p=8942 for more details.

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