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OPEC in the News
One billion people lack access to electricity worldwide- OPEC By Ikenna Omeje
T
he Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has said that almost one billion people worldwide lack access to electricity while three billion are without modern fuel for cooking. OPEC Secretary-General, Mohammed Barkindo stated this at the 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP25. Barkindo who started his speech discussing Yola, the capital of Adamawa State, where he grew up, said that things like keeping lights in houses, insulating homes and access to clean water, which many countries take for granted, remain fundamental needs to the vulnerable in developing countries. “Mr. President, yours sincerely standing before you, grew up in town called Yola, in Adamawa State, Northeastern part of Nigeria. In this town, Mr. President, that I grew up even today, keeping the lights in our houses; insulating our homes; or accessing clean water - amenities taking for granted by many countries, are beyond the reach of the most vulnerable in our communities. Sadly, Mr. President, this is a situation experienced in many developing countries. There are almost one billion people worldwide, who currently lack access to electricity and three billion without modern fuels for cooking, are not just statistics on a page. They are real people; each one, Mr. President is an individual,” he said. According to him, fuel poverty is a major challenge for sustainable development. He noted that OPEC will not accept energy transition from one source to another, 40
adding that the organization listens to scientists, supports Paris Agreement and the efforts of multilateralism that underpins it. “Fuel poverty is not an abstract concept, rather it is a profound challenge for sustainable development. It is an all too brutal reality for hungry families living in the cold or dark for the millions of children currently attending schools without power and for many hospitals without reliable energy. Nobody should be left behind by the energy transition. Mr. President, we reject energy transition from one source to another. At OPEC, we listen attentively to scientists, we wholeheartedly support the Paris Agreement and the efforts of multilateralism that underpins it. The core elements of the convention, particularly historical responsibility and national circumstances must be adhered to.We recognize, Mr. President, the complexity and magnitude of climate change. We live it in our countries.” Giving suggestions to some of the solutions to climate change, Barkindo opined that all mitigation and adaptation measures are necessary, noting that technological innovations including Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), investment for access to energy and energy efficiency should be part of the solutions to climate change. In his words,”There is no panacea for group global warming. All viable mitigation and adaptation measures a re neces sa r y. Technolog ica l innovations including CCUS, enhance investment for energy access and improved energy efficiency must be
Majorwaves Energy Report JANUARY 2020, Vol 3 No 1
part of the solution. The oil industry, Mr. President, is committed to both. The oil industry must be part of the solution to the impact of climate change. The energy transition must be holistic, inclusive, fair and equitable in accordance with the core UNFCCC Principle of common, but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.” The 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP25, is the 25th United Nations Climate Change conference. The conference was held in Madrid, Spain, under the presidency of Sebastián Piñera, President of Chile. The conference, which commenced on December 2, will end on December 13, 2019. The conference incorporates the 25th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the 15th meeting of the parties for the Kyoto Protocol (CMP15), and the second meeting of the parties for the Paris Agreement (CMA2). The conference was planned to be held in Brazil in November 2019, but a year before the planned start, newly-elected President Jair Bolsonaro withdrew the offer to host the event, citing economic reasons.Then Chile stepped up and became the new host, but social unrest in the lead up to the meeting forced it late October 2019 to withdraw from hosting. Then by mutual agreement between the UN, Chile, and Spain, the latter became the new host.
