UN development officials urge climate focus on lack of electricity, modern fuels among poor

UN pushes electricity, fuels lack in climate talks

UNITED NATIONS — Development officials say almost half the people in the world lack modern fuels to cook or heat their homes, including 1.2 billion without any electricity.

They urge negotiators to address the gap in “energy access” for the world’s poorest at next month’s global climate talks in Denmark.

The U.N. Development Program and World Health Organization reported Monday that 2 billion people lack natural gas, propane or other fuels and must live in shelters without heat or cook over wood fires that damage their health.

Agency officials said poor people mostly in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa should have access to those fuels and electricity produced by traditional but clean-burning technology and by renewable sources.

UNDP official Olav Kjorven called those unmet energy needs “central to a new climate agreement.”