Response to Poor People Energy Outlook 2014

  Reading the report Poor People Energy Outlook 2014, I consider it a mind opening.  For example, according to the United Nations, 830 million people were undernourished in 2010” (p.14). Furthermore, it is shocking to realize that we need to increase agriculture productivity by 70 percent in order to be able to “feed 9 million people by 2050.” (p. 18).  I agree with the report that energy solutions are important for our existence and development, and that information and communication technology is vital even for successful agriculture. For example, weather forecasting can save farmers from losses.  Lack of proper technology can leave many humans behind.  Prior to reading this article, I never thought of a stove as a household item that can impact the economy. In the Western world we take stoves for granted as every house has one. However, those households around the world that do not have one, or a one that is efficient, are affected financially. The time individuals need to invest in collecting wood, consumes time from mastering knowledge that can alleviate poverty (p. 29). This gets worse when there is no electricity and the need to sleep early deprives students from investing extra hours that can advance their knowledge that could be translated into income in the future. Additionally, it is alarming that in the year 2015, many people in the world cannot protect themselves from extreme weather and end up suffering the consequences. According to the report, “energy access ecosystem” can offer a solution to the current problem. However, it was troubling to realize that even when funds and energy access may be available for addressing the issue, some governments may not disburse the money that was invested for this purpose (p. 54). I agree that short and long term solutions should be implemented so that people will not continue to perish at the present time. I also agree with the “holistic” approach--the joining of forces which the report recommends. I found the report stimulating and evoking the need to put efforts toward finding solutions to combat poverty through technology. It is vital that we all join forces, brainstorm, and unleash our creativity to ensure that humans in every part of the world would live a decent life –leaving no one behind.