ENERGY: ACCESS AND SUFFICIENCY

The document argues that energy sufficiency—defined as using 'enough—not more, and not less'—is essential for achieving a just energy transition. It distinguishes sufficiency from efficiency, noting that efficiency alone can lead to increased consumption via the 'rebound effect'. The briefing highlights global inequalities, where energy consumption in the US and Canada is roughly 30 times higher than in the poorest African countries. Practical applications are illustrated through community-led solar projects in Palestine and Cameroon, and a consumption-capped mini-grid on the Isle of Eigg in Scotland.

• Global energy consumption is characterized by extreme inequality; per capita use in the US and Canada is approximately twice that of Europe or Japan, four times that of China, 20 times that of India, and 30 times that of the poorest African countries.
• Energy sufficiency is distinct from energy efficiency because it incorporates 'restraints on growth' and defines a cap on consumption, whereas efficiency focuses on 'doing more with less' without limiting the total amount of energy used.
• The 'Jevons paradox' or 'rebound effect' describes how energy efficiency can inadvertently increase overall consumption by making equipment more affordable, which subsequently drives higher demand.
• In Cameroon, the government's preference for centralized grids and mega-dams—which provide over 70% of installed capacity—has resulted in a system that fails to serve more than 74% of rural and poorer communities.
• The Israeli siege on Gaza has severely reduced power plant productivity to 25% of previous capacity, leaving 1.7 million Palestinians with daily electricity shortages of at least ten hours and forcing a reliance on unsafe gasoline generators.
• The Isle of Eigg in Scotland demonstrates energy sufficiency through a community-owned mini-grid that generates 90% of its electricity from wind, hydro, and solar, and enforces strict consumption caps of 5kW for households and 10kW for businesses to prevent overconsumption.

APA

Friends of the Earth International (2016). ENERGY: ACCESS AND SUFFICIENCY. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ENERGY-SUFFICIENCY-EN-FINAL.pdf

Chicago

Friends of the Earth International. ENERGY: ACCESS AND SUFFICIENCY. 2016. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ENERGY-SUFFICIENCY-EN-FINAL.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Friends of the Earth International |title=ENERGY: ACCESS AND SUFFICIENCY |date=November 2016 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ENERGY-SUFFICIENCY-EN-FINAL.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{friendsoftheearthinternational2016energy, author = {{Friends of the Earth International}}, title = {{ENERGY: ACCESS AND SUFFICIENCY}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2016}, month = nov, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ENERGY-SUFFICIENCY-EN-FINAL.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }