Energy as it relates to Poverty Alleviation and Environmental Protection (UNDP, 1998, 36 p.): Remaining Challenges: Lack of initiative

Energy as it relates to Poverty Alleviation and Environmental Protection (UNDP, 1998, 36 p.)

Remaining Challenges

		(introduction...)
		Subsidies for conventional fuels distort the markets
		Pricing does not reflect externalities
		Theft and pilferage
		Outmoded policy
		Lack of coordination in decision-making
		Lobbies supporting conventional energy
		Lack of information
		Lack of skills
		Lack of initiative

Lack of initiative

Lack of government capability and lack of leadership and commitment by donors may inhibit development workers from applying sustainable energy strategies in standard poverty alleviation programmes, even if many of the obstacles listed above were absent. Thus, unless there are strong promoters within government or international agencies, the energy components in specific projects may be treated cursorily or eliminated entirely.