The real issue at COP27 is energy equity

#GS-03 Environment and Ecology

In 2021, 733 million people had no access to electricity and almost 2.6 billion people lacked access to clean fuels and technologies.
The average per capita energy use of the richest 20 countries is 85 times higher than that of the 20 poorest countries.
The average annual per capita electricity consumption of sub-Saharan Africa is 487 kilowatt-hours (kWh). This can be viewed alongside an infant mortality rate of 73 per 1,000 live births; maternal mortality ratio of 534 per 1,00,000 live births, and per capita GDP of $1,645.
On the other hand, the OECD group of countries have a per capita electricity consumption of 7,750 kWh, corresponding to an infant mortality rate of seven, maternal mortality ratio of 18, and per capita GDP of $42,098.
The global inequity came under the spotlight during the pandemic.
Several countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America are facing severe agricultural and industrial slowdowns in the post-pandemic period.
Currently due to increasing fuel and energy prices are leading to a severe rise in the cost of living and nearly 70 million additional people are estimated to fall below the poverty line of $3.20 per person per day.
Almost 90 million people in Asia and Africa, who gained access to electricity recently, cannot afford to pay their energy bills.
The lack of affordable energy infrastructure has compounded the difficulties and has multi-dimensional impacts across developmental indicators.

In the United States, 81% of primary energy is from fossil fuels.
In Europe, fossil fuels constitute 76% of the energy consumption (coal, oil, and natural gas contribute 11%, 31%, and 34% respectively).
Natural gas was responsible for 7.5 billion tonnes of CO2 (i.e., 23% of the total CO2 by the major fossil fuels), in 2020.
However, in July 2022, the European Union (EU) voted to classify the use of natural gas for some uses as “green and sustainable”.
Additionally, in 2022, even coal consumption in the U.S. and the EU is estimated to increase by 3% and 7%, respectively.

At COP27, the global South must put the question of its energy poverty and the severe global inequalities in energy access squarely at the centre of all discussions.
We need to achieve zero hunger, zero malnutrition, zero poverty, and universal well-being even as we collectively contribute to ensuring effective climate action.
As the strapline for COP27 (“Together for Implementation”) suggests, we must work together to ensure that these developmental goals are not side-lined.

To know more about COP 27 click here.

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