June 15, 2012
Eight19 has joined forces with leaders in their respective fields to push for action at the Rio+20 conference to address energy poverty. Eight19's CEO Simon Bransfield-Garth will join a high-level panel to discuss energy access and provide further support for the campaign to unlock investment in emerging markets. The topic “1 Billion Reasons to Deliver Clean Energy Access for the Poor” will bring together some of the world’s leading off-grid social entrepreneurs to emphasise the importance of this sector in delivering on the world’s energy access goals and bring practical solutions that can start to address the challenges of energy poverty. The panel comprising the Sierra Club, Carbon War Room, Greenlight Planet and Greenpeace India is seeking increased financial commitments for the sector.
Since the launch of the UN’s Year of Sustainable Energy for All at the World Future Energy Summit in January 2012, Eight19 has been at the forefront of the global energy access dialogue and views the energy poverty challenge as an opportunity for technology innovation to deliver disruptive and lasting change to the lives of millions of rural households. Indigo ‘pay-as-you-go’ solar combines solar and mobile phone technology to deliver electricity directly to people’s homes thereby by passing the need for a grid connection. The sustainable business model offers local economic growth and environmental impact through removing the harmful effects of fossil-fuel burning for lighting.
1.6Bn people, over one fifth of the world’s population, lack access to electricity via a grid. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), over a billion people will still be off-grid in 2030 because the increase in electrification is unable to keep up with population growth. Last month, Eight19 and a group of the world’s leading off-grid clean energy entrepreneurs including, sent a letter to the World Bank Group to secure up to $500 million to de-risk off-grid clean energy investments at the Rio+20 conference.
World leaders, along with thousands of participants from the private sector, NGOs and other groups, will come together to shape how we can reduce poverty, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection on an ever more crowded planet. Rio+20 is also an opportunity to look ahead to the world we want in 20 years.
Eight19 has been invited to participate at several other high-level events including a unique speed networking session for 72 senior-level participants organised by UN DESA and REEEP as well as the exclusive launch of Sustainia100 with keynote delivered by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The “1 Billion Reasons to Deliver Clean Energy Access for the Poor” panel takes place on Friday 22 June, 11:00 - 12:30 at T-10, RioCentro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Read the Entrepreneurs letter to the World Bank Here: http://bit.ly/IzuDSU