The Charcoal Project

Human development

World needs a Nick Stern report on energy poverty

Posted on by Jean Kim Chaix

OPINION

How much does energy poverty cost?

How much is lost in productivity by societies dependent on traditional biomass fuel?

What is the monetary value of global deforestation for biomass fuel use?

What is the cost (in CO2-equivalent) of the volumes of black carbon being pumped into the atmosphere?

What percentage of national budgets go to treat illnesses attributable to indoor air pollution from inefficient biomass combustion?

How much potential income is lost from the estimated 1,500,000 people who die annually as a consequence of exposure to indoor air pollution?

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Haiti: A Chance to Get it Right

Posted on by Jean Kim Chaix

The horrendous destruction visited on Haiti last week has sparked a torrent of compassion from around the world. Even the bioenergy community has turned out to support the relief effort. But when the relief agencies move on to the next crisis and the last US marine has returned home, Haiti will still be an impoverished and broken country suffering the consequences of decades of profound social, economic, and environmental neglect. There is much talk of planning for the long term stability and growth of the nation.  But any development aid and growth plans will take time to bear fruit. Even Continue reading→

Is Copenhagen funding a global stove, kiln, and briquettes conversion program?

Posted on by charcoalproject

I can’t decide what to make of today’s announcement in Copenhagen heralding a new five-year program by industrialized nations to invest $350m in the deployment of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies in developing countries. On the surface this should be a cause of celebration. The big question is how will these funds will be spent? Here’s a hint, according to Climate Wire. Speaking on the sidelines of the U.N. climate conference here, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said the new program — with an $85 million U.S. contribution — would help get energy-efficient appliances and lighting to the poorest nations, Continue reading→

Video: Africa’s forest have a lot to offer in Copenhagen

Posted on by charcoalproject

There is an excellent film by South Africa-based photojournalist Jeffrey Barbee that will hopefully get quite a bit of play in Copenhagen. It explores how African forests and woodfuel efficiency can play a big role in reducing CO2 emissions while improving people’s livelihood. We were especially interested to learn through this film about a stoves project in Malawi which is not only improving the lives the local inhabitants but also providing valuable carbon credits to an eco securities firm for sale on the voluntary carbon market. (The segment about Malawi and the stoves begins at 5:40 on part 2 but Continue reading→

A Prius in Every Pot?

Posted on by charcoalproject

We have good reasons to believe the age of enlightened energy awaits us around the corner, right? Not so fast. It will be a long while before every thatched or corrugated tin roof on the globe has a photovoltaic array or a wind turbine. In the meantime, the plight of the energy poor – the 2.5 billion souls who depend on wood, charcoal, and animal dung for heating and cooking – will continue to deteriorate as they watch their environment, health, and prospects for emerging from poverty grow worse by the day. They are predictably scattered across the globe, but Continue reading→