[Stoves] Evaluating the context

[Tom Miles]

There have been hundreds of studies of the social, economic, and health
impacts of stoves over the last few years. A recent review article that is
available for a fee, or request from the authors, is:

 

Challenges and opportunities of new energy schemes for food security in
humanitarian contexts: A selective review 

February 2017

Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments 

DOI 10.1016/j.seta.2017.02.006

 

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to analyse, in the humanitarian context, the
key links between energy and food security, energy-related challenges faced
by affected populations, current barriers to sustainable energy access,
opportunities for addressing energy needs and existing gaps in current
research on energy issues. Ensuring access to energy is a major challenge
for some 3.1 billion people living in low- and middle-income countries,
especially in remote and off-grid areas. Lack of safe, affordable and
sustainable energy for cooking, heating, lighting and powering has
cross-sectoral implications and is particularly constrained for the roughly
60 million people living in complex emergencies and protracted crisis. Some
80 percent of refugees and displaced people in camps have little access to
energy entailing additional exposure to security risks, health hazards and
restricted economic and education opportunities. Often people have no choice
but to depend on biomass to meet their immediate energy needs. The
traditional use of solid biomass and inefficient technologies for cooking,
heating and other energy needs, can be harmful to their well-being and food
security while being largely unsustainable. The consumption of safe, healthy
and nutritious meals often depends on access to energy, allowing for proper
preparation and utilisation of food. The inability for people to meet their
energy needs for cooking may seriously affect food and nutrition security
not only in terms of utilisation, but also has the potential to impair
sustainable food systems. The humanitarian system is unable to face the
energy challenge and increasing needs if current response measures are not
improved. Actions and a substantial change in policy are needed, in order to
significantly reduce the total number of people relying on solid fuels by
2030. This article will discuss how underlying barriers are contributing to
inadequate access and use of energy and cooking technologies in humanitarian
settings and the subsequent adverse impacts on people’s lives and
environments. The projected effects of the current energy poverty crisis in
humanitarian settings is discussed while some of the solutions to address
energy needs, including examples based on innovative technologies and new
mechanisms, are examined in general terms. Furthermore, the challenges,
opportunities and future areas of interest associated with these
technologies and mechanisms are also considered.

 

Authors: MarcoCaniato, Daphné Carliez, Andreas Thulstrup

 

 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213138817300978

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314100138_Challenges_and_opportunit
ies_of_new_energy_schemes_for_food_security_in_humanitarian_contexts_A_selec
tive_review  

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