Energy and Development in a Changing World: A Framework for the 21st Century

Among the most complex and influential energy transformations of the 21st century are those underway in developing countries. The past 15 years have seen the weight of these countries in the global energy landscape grow dramatically as their energy consumption has nearly doubled. Developing countries are now facing a major challenge with global implications: how to best secure and consume the majority of the world’s energy resources in a manner that both promotes their continued economic growth and is sustainable, including from a climate change perspective. At the same time, too many poorer households still remain without access to electricity or clean cooking, a major ongoing development challenge. Led by Adjunct Senior Research Scholar Philippe Benoit, the Energy for Development program proposes a new framework to analyze the dynamics surrounding the use of energy for development, one that reflects the ever-increasing economic weight and growing energy demand of developing countries as they fight poverty and move toward prosperity.