The first objective of the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All initiative is to provide universal access to modern energy services by 2030. No region is closer to reaching that goal than Latin America and the Caribbean, which is why the Inter-American Development Bank, which runs the Sustainable Energy for All Americas initiative, has thrown its support behind providing planning help for Latin America and the Caribbean.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, women often responsible for taking care of the home and raising children. In the region, millions of women stay at home to take care of the housework and children. What does this have to do with energy? A lot. Since women and children spend more time at home, they will mostly benefit if the family can afford higher thermal quality housing, i.e. a house where the temperature inside is comfortable, whether it is hot or cold outside.
Who has not heard of smart grids? The term is increasingly common in discussions about the present and future of the electrical grid. But, what is a smart grid? Some people equate smart grids with smart meters that measure and inform the user in real time about energy consumption and its cost. Others see smart grids as the control of distributed generators connected to homes or to medium voltage networks.
Harnessing river flows through the use of water wheels dates back thousands of years and is considered by many to be the first application of renewable energy technology.Palm oil has a terrible reputation. Especially among environmental and social advocates, palm oil is viewed as the crop responsible for a large-scale deforestation, particularly in Southeast Asia.
The financing gap for climate adaptation is huge- it is estimated that developing countries need somewhere between US$70 to $100 billion per year through 2050 to meet current and future adaptation needs, and that’s on the low end!Have you ever seen a building in your hometown that was never finished due to insufficient money? Have you suffered power outages due to hurricanes or flooding? Are there communities in your country fighting against infrastructure developments in their towns? These are only a few examples of the problems that can arise when infrastructure is built disregarding the risks involved and ignoring the potential impacts on and perceptions from society.
An apple at a supermarket: $0.50.
1,000 gallons of tap water in New York City: $4.95.
Annual value of pollination to agriculture: $200 billion.
