High-performing, solar-powered appliances and technologies can help improve climate resilience for people in developing countries. For those living beyond the grid, these appliances can ensure communities are prepared for the impacts of climate change and other shocks, such as the Covid-19 pandemic. Organisations across the world are innovating life-changing appliances and technologies to ensure no one is left without access. We’ve included some examples below:
Around 759 million people around the world the world still lack access to electricity. These populations are particularly at risk to climate change impacts, such as droughts and changing weather patterns.
To celebrate World Energy Day on 22 October 2021, we’re highlighting how affordable, high-performing and inclusive solar-powered appliances and technologies can help address the climate emergency, achieve universal energy access and help communities build resilience to external shocks.
With COP26 happening in Glasgow in November, this World Energy Day is even more important than ever. One of the three main goals of COP26 is to ‘Accelerate the transition from coal to clean power’. Through Energy Saving Trust’s work on Efficiency for Access, we are committed to accelerating a just and inclusive clean energy transition by promoting affordable, high-performing solar-powered appliances.
In the lead up to COP26, Efficiency for Access is leading a collaborative Solar Appliances for Our Planet campaign to mobilise businesses, governments, academia, investors, youth, and the civil society around the world to put high-performing appliances front and centre on the development agenda.
Building resilience through access to appliances
The development of these technologies is supported by the Efficiency for Access Research and Development Fund, which we manage through our work on Efficiency for Access and its flagship initiative, the Low Energy Inclusive Appliances programme (LEIA). So far, LEIA, which is funded by UK aid and the IKEA Foundation, has helped almost 5.5 million of the world’s poorest people gain access to affordable, low carbon energy appliances and associated technologies.
Looking ahead, Efficiency for Access is a partner initiative of the Race to Resilience, helping to build the resilience of 4 billion people by 2030. Alongside the International Energy Agency and ICF, Efficiency for Access will serve as an energy access co-theme lead at the COP26 Resilience Hub, a virtual and physical space acting as the home of the UN High Level Champions Race to Resilience that will run in parallel with COP26.
Get involved
Within the Resilience Hub, there will be two hybrid events on Thursday 4 November.
The first interactive Live Q&A, ‘Building the resilience of smallholder farmers through solar-powered agricultural technologies,’ will bring together panellists from Acumen and Wala, and highlight solar-powered agricultural technologies that are enhancing the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
The second event, ‘Supporting clean energy entrepreneurs,’ will underscore the crucial role of local entrepreneurs in delivering affordable, sustainable, and scalable products to off-grid customers, with speakers from ColdHubs, M-KOPA and GOGLA.
Header image credit: OVO Solar
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