Bio fuels and energy justice Between potentials and realities Maria Arce Moreira

The Global Challenge Billions of women and men lack access to services and fundamental needs  2.4 billion without access to improved sanitation  2 billion people without access to electricity  1.5 billion people in inadequate shelter  1 billion without access to improved water supply  50% of urban waste in developing countries is not collected  850 million people hungry What does that mean for poverty?  It is a big part of what it means to be poor  It is a consequence of poverty – the result of lacking income, land, power  It is a cause of poverty – reducing productivity, increasing vulnerability, closing options to escape poverty.

Two worlds in disconnect

Three billion people rely on firewood for cooking

2 billion people without access to electricity

Unequal energy access but also energy use  Electricity consumption per capita: in the USA  kW in Vietnam  331 kW  Rural Thailand average electricity consumption: 1 st year  kW/month after 5 years  kW/month

More energy poor in the future Electricity Deprivation: Africa: 526m 584m (2030) Lacking access to clean cooking fuels: Global: 2.5bn 2.7bn (2030) Source: IEA WEO (2004) Source: IEA WEO (2006) People Relying on Traditional Biomass (million)

Can biofuels help address energy poverty? Biodiesel & transport for isolated Amazon communities in Peru

The Mali Folk centre Jatropha energy platform concept form/jat_energy_platform_frames.html

Ethanol clean cook stove

There is rhetorical agreement  Access to energy is fundamental to achieve the MDGs and overcome poverty.  Climate change requires transformation of the energy systems  The livelihoods of the poor are directly dependent on their ecosystems and the services these offer.

Reality shows that  UN processes have the mandate to address sustainable development as a whole. But:  Who is involved, whose interests are really represented and whose voices heard?  Focus on specific/convenient aspects of the issue rather than applying an integrated and multilayered approach.  Potentials overestimated and used to justify biased interests.  Market forces stronger than diplomats’ labia.

Therefore  Articulate and incorporate poor people’s processes and agendas in our international work in a more structured manner. (Nyeleni’s agenda).  Become facilitator and strategic partner rather than talk on behalf of.  Open and use existing spaces at international platforms to bring the voices of the most affected and their organisations at the forefront.

Can biofuels address energy access for the poor?  There is potential to increase access under some circumstances BUT this option needs to be compared with other renewables that may be more economically and environmentally sustainable and viable.  Although simple technologies exist there needs to be an assessment of the affordability, capacities to manage the system and long-term sustainability.  Above all there needs to be specific policies addressing energy poverty in an integrated manner.

Thanks for your attention