Hello, Houston? Is that blip on the radar screen actually energy poverty?

Is it just us or is public awareness finally turning its ADHD gaze on energy poverty?

Was it Hillary Clinton’s announcement of the launch of the Global Alliance of Clean Cookstoves at the CGI the catalyst?

Is the public finally connecting the dots between deforestation and a series of natural and human disasters? (See Haiti, Pakistan)

The fact is that there seems to be more and more ink dedicated to the topic of energy poverty and its impact on public health, poverty, and the degradation of local environments in developing countries.

The clearest indication yet that energy poverty alleviation is gaining credence as a legitimate (if dangerous?) development issue is the contrarian view taken by the Global Governance Watch, a website funded by the conservative groups: American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies.

The article is actually an OpEd questioning the notion of access to modern energy as a basic human right:

Joining what is fast becoming an exercise in developing a wish list of international human rights that dilutes the meaning of human rights in pursuit of global governance and wealth redistribution, three international organizations have published a report on how to make modern energy access universal. This proposed “right to energy” takes its place alongside several other international economic rights the legal basis and content of which are disputable, including, but not limited to, the right to development, right to water and sanitation, right to food, right to access to medicines, and the right to vacation. (Read more)

There’s no doubt that the launch of the GACC and the release of the IEA’s report were catalysts for the increased attention that’s been focused on energy poverty.

And while we don’t necessarily think that all publicity is good publicity, we certainly should welcome vigorous debate and public engagement on the issue of energy poverty alleviation, even when the views expressed are not always popular.

So, congratulation to energy poverty on becoming a contentious issue!

— The Editors