Sustainable energy is good for the climate and for developing countries
If the western world continues to consume such large quantities of fossil energy the effects on the climate will be catastrophic. People in developing countries are affected the most by climate change. They are poorly equipped to defend themselves against the effects of a changing climate.
Many countries have no dikes to protect themselves against flooding, for instance, and there is no insurance to cover damage caused by hurricanes or flooding, which are occurring more frequently. Other consequences of climate change are an increase in (waterborne) diseases like malaria and dengue fever and an increase in forced migration.
Fossil energy sources
At the same time, energy is vital for these countries, for without energy there can be no economic development. Fossil energy sources, such as gas and oil, offer few prospects to developing countries. Oil and gas make people dependant on the import of increasingly scarce and expensive supplies, but traditional non-fossil energy sources can also damage the environment. An example is large-scale logging. Moreover, the use of firewood in old-fashioned stoves pollutes homes with toxic smoke.
Biogas plant
This is why developing countries benefit the most from renewable energy. Hivos invests in sustainable energy products in the South, such as hydropower, solar power and biomass. This does not require costly energy networks as the energy sources are widely available and can be deployed on a small, decentralised scale. An example of this is a biogas plant that generates energy for one family with small livestock.
Hivos also urges rich, western countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions rapidly and radically and to convert to sustainable energy on a mass scale. It is the only solution to stop further climate change.
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