Health benefits of lower consumption in focus

Abu Dhabi: In order to make people take energy concerns seriously, the health benefits of reduced consumption and adoption of renewable energy solutions must be stressed further, international experts said yesterday.

The link between renewable energy sources and good health is not yet effectively used to change consumer behaviour, they added.

"Many renewable energy sources positively affect people's health. For example, encouraging people to walk, cycle or use more public transport not only reduces energy consumption but also helps them avoid obesity and diabetes. This also translates into lower health care costs for individuals and economies," said Carlos Dora, coordinator for the Department of Public Health and Environment at the World Health Organisation (WHO).

He was speaking on the second day of the fifth World Future Energy Summit (WFES) on sustainable energy solutions.

During the session, Dora said populations with insufficient access to energy were more likely to relate to the health benefits of clean and renewable energy sources.

"In poor countries, many clinics in rural areas do not have access to electricity. According to WHO estimates, there are at least 200,000 such clinics without energy access. This of course leads to serious concerns about the health of the populations, because people do not have access to vaccines and many other basic treatment procedures," he said.

Energy poverty

According to the WHO official, businesses currently have an opportunity to invest in renewable energy-driven power grid solutions so that health care can be enhanced in such energy-poor areas.

Vijay Iyer, director of the sustainable energy department at the World Bank, also said energy poverty at present made the shift to renewable energy sources more acceptable. He added that the widespread use of mobile phones made it even more imperative to ensure universal energy access through clean technologies.

"Fortunately, this often requires very little money. For example, the Lighting Africa initiative aimed to replace kerosene lamps in rural African areas with LED lamps. Entrepreneurs who participated in this initiative now not only provide solar lamps, the cost of which has fallen from $35 (Dh128.5) to $15, but also products for cellphone charging that many people now want," he said.