View source for Access to electricity

[[category:371 topics]]
[[Category:Lecture 2B Energy around the world]]
[[Category:Done 2015-10-15]] 
<onlyinclude>'''Electricity access''' refers to the percentage of people in a given area that have relatively simple, stable access to [[electricity]].<ref>World Bank. (March 14, 2015). ''Household electrification rate'' [Online]. Available: http://worldbank.270a.info/classification/indicator/EG.ELC.HOUS.ZS.html</ref> It can also be referred to as the '''electrification rate'''.</onlyinclude> Not all countries and areas have equal access to electricity, and the level of access can be indicative of the development level of the country or area in question. This means that electricity access serves as a good proxy for other indicators of [[wealth]] and opportunity in a country.

It is estimated that around 1.2 billion people worldwide do not have access to electricity in their homes,<ref name='WBE'>World Bank. (March 14, 2015). ''Energy Overview'' [Online]. Available: http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/energy/overview#1</ref> many of these, approximately 95%, being people located in Africa and Asia.<ref name='IEA'>International Energy Agency. (March 14, 2015). ''Energy Poverty'' [Online]. Available: http://www.iea.org/topics/energypoverty/</ref> As well, most of the people who do not have access to electricity are part of the [[rural population]], with about 84% of people without access to electricity living in rural areas.<ref name='IEA'/>

Below is an interactive map with data showing the percentage of a country's population that had access to electricity in 2010.<ref>World Bank. (May 4, 2015). ''Access to Electricity (% Population)'' [Online]. Available: http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS</ref>

<html><iframe src="http://www.energyeducation.ca/simulations/graphs/electricityaccess.html" class="interactive-geo" scrolling='no'></iframe></html>

Along with not having access to electricity, a significant number of people do not have access to safe, clean cooking and heating methods (see [[access to non-solid fuel]]). Instead, approximately 2.8 billion people rely on the burning of [[coal]], wood or other [[biomass]] (animal dung and crop waste) which results in indoor and outdoor air pollution.<ref name='WBE'/> It is estimated that over 4 ''million'' people die yearly from illnesses attributable to air [[pollution]] from burning these fuels.<ref name='WHO'>World Health Organization. (March 14, 2015). ''Household Air Pollution'' [Online]. Available: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs292/en/</ref> Of these deaths, it is estimated that more than 50% are children under 5 who of pneumonia from inhaled [[soot]].<ref name='WHO'/>

As well, these emissions from burning biomass are important drivers of [[climate change]] and the degradation of the local environment.<ref name='UNF'>United Nations Foundations. (March 14, 2015). ''Achieving Universal Energy Access'' [Online]. Available: http://www.unfoundation.org/what-we-do/issues/energy-and-climate/clean-energy-development.html</ref>

Although electrification has many benefits, many countries have not yet made the financial commitment to rural electrification. Many countries have yet to increase electrification which could in turn reduce poverty.<ref> Energy Development and Poverty Reduction. (March 14, 2015). ''Rural Electrification'' [Online].http://www.energyfordevelopment.com/2010/04/rural-electrification-by-numbers.html</ref> It is a difficult commitment, and efforts fail when institutions don't get sufficient support to put in this [[electrical grid|extensive infrastructure]]. 

==Benefits of Electrification==
Modern energy services are important in ensuring a satisfactory [[quality of life]] for people and promoting economic development. Access to energy is central to issues such as security, [[climate change]], food production, and strengthening economies while protecting ecosystems.<ref name='UNF'/> Increased access to electricity improves education, entertainment, health, comfort, protection, and productivity. In a study done in the Phillipines,<ref>Virginia Abiad, Aleta Domdom, Doug Barnes,Henry Peskin. (March 14, 2015). ''Benefit Estimates of Rural Electrification in the Philippines'' [Online]. Available: https://www.esmap.org/sites/esmap.org/files/PR_Phillipines_philelec.pdf </ref> it was determined that access to electricity provided families with improved education as children could study more easily after dark. As well, not having to collect fuels to burn saves time for people in the family, particularly the women. As well, increased access to electricity simplified household tasks and improved the productivity of home businesses. Overall, it was estimated that 1.82 '''years''' of education were added in electrified households and the monthly benefit was $10.33.

For more information on electricity access, [http://www.worldmapper.org/display.php?selected=346 Worldmapper] has maps depicting electricity access. As well, [http://www.gapminder.org/ Gapminder] has helpful charts comparing electricity access to other criteria.

==References==
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