Dubai: Energy poverty is holding back the potential of people and economies across the globe but concerted efforts by countries can plug impoverished communities into the future, said officials at the World Energy Forum on Monday.

Wu Hongbo, the UN’s Under Secretary General of Economic and Social Affairs, on behalf of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, pledged in his opening keynote address at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre on Monday to fight energy poverty.

“One in five people lack access to electricity and some 2.7 billion people depend on wood or animal waste for cooking at a great cost to human and environmental health,” Hongbo told delegates.

With climate change looming as a growing threat across the planet, Hongbo said: “Sustainability energy is the golden threat naturally for these challenges. We believe it can support economic growth, social equality and healthier environment.”

The promise of sustainable energy is critical, delegates heard, given that the world is expected to see its energy consumption grow by 70 per cent over the next 25 years.

Despite increasing electricity generating projects being constructed around the world, people do not have the luxury of lighted homes or electric cooking, leading to abject poverty and reduced.

In addition to marking October 22 every year as World Energy Day, Hongpo said other conferences and advisory board efforts by the UN and member countries are making a difference.

Dr Harold Hyunsuk Oh, President and Chairman of the World Energy Forum, told delegates that no one should be without electricity.

He proposed that “energy access should be a fundamental right for every person… and should be made a priority by highest authorities in every land”.

Hyunsuk said the “world is going through an unprecedented energy transformation” from fossil fuels to all kinds of new renewable energy such as solar and wind power.

Despite the evolution, he noted that “almost half of the population relies on biomass for its daily energy needs… to light up the world, we need more than business as usual.”

Hyunsuk said the world needs a “new paradigm” and introduced his concept of what he called the formation of a new smart energy movement, a new initiative taken up by World Energy Forum.

Just such a movement is being urged of all energy producers and consumers to re-examine how we produce and use energy in an environment that can no longer afford the daily consumerism demands of seven billion people in the ways of yesteryear.

Hyunsuk said the world needs to begin smart energy practices and work on a number of fronts ranging from energy conservation, efficiency, reducing environmental impact and encouraging investment in the energy sector.

“Everyone is invited to participate in the smart energy movement,” he said.

To properly gauge the success of the new movement proposed by the WEF, he said that a new smart energy index that will record key points, global progress and make recommendations for the future, he said.

The new index will be guided by a committee comprised of scientists and experts.