Énergie : Accès et autosuffisance

The report by Friends of the Earth International examines the global disparities in energy consumption, distinguishing between energy exclusion in the Global South and energy poverty in the Global North. It proposes 'energy sufficiency'—defined as using neither more nor less energy than is sufficient for a dignified life—as an alternative to energy efficiency, which can lead to the 'Jevons paradox' or 'rebound effect' where efficiency increases overall consumption. The document illustrates this through case studies: solar PV projects in Gaza to counter electricity shortages; community solar lighting in rural Cameroon to bypass centralized, polluting grids; and a community-owned mini-grid on the Isle of Eigg in Scotland that uses consumption caps to maintain sustainability.

• Global energy access is characterized by severe disparities: nearly 20% of the world's population lacks electricity, and approximately 40% lack healthy cooking appliances, with the majority of these gaps located in Africa and developing Asian countries.
• Energy poverty in the Global North is defined by affordability rather than availability; a common metric is when a household must spend at least 10% of its income on domestic energy. In December 2011, 25% of households in England and Wales were considered energy poor, and between 50 to 125 million people across Europe are estimated to be in similar situations.
• Per capita energy consumption in the US and Canada is double that of Europe or Japan, four times that of China, 20 times that of India, and approximately 30 times that of the poorest African nations.
• Energy sufficiency is presented as a model based on 'sufficient' use that differs from energy efficiency. The report warns that efficiency can lead to the 'Jevons paradox' or 'rebound effect,' where lower costs per unit of service lead to increased overall demand and consumption.
• In Gaza, Israeli blockades and bombings since 2006 reduced power plant capacity by nearly 25%, leaving 1.7 million Palestinians with daily outages of at least 10 hours. This has led to a reliance on polluting and dangerous gasoline generators, which PENGON counters with community-designed solar PV units for lighting, electronics, and water pumps.
• Cameroon's energy system is dominated by polluting sources, with large dams accounting for over 70% of installed capacity. This centralized model fails to serve over 74% of rural communities. In response, the CED/Friends of the Earth Cameroon implemented community solar lighting in the villages of Mouanko, Bikogo, and Biagnimi.
• The Isle of Eigg in Scotland transitioned from diesel dependence to a community-owned mini-grid using wind, hydro, and solar PV, now producing nearly 90% of its electricity. To ensure sustainability, the community imposes consumption limits of 5 kW for households and 10 kW for businesses, with automatic disconnection for those who exceed these caps.

APA

Friends of the Earth International (2016). Énergie : Accès et autosuffisance. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ENERGY-SUFFICIENCY-FR-FINAL.pdf

Chicago

Friends of the Earth International. Énergie : Accès et autosuffisance. 2016. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ENERGY-SUFFICIENCY-FR-FINAL.pdf.

Wikipedia

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

BibTeX

@techreport{friendsoftheearthinternational2016nergie, author = {{Friends of the Earth International}}, title = {{Énergie : Accès et autosuffisance}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2016}, month = nov, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ENERGY-SUFFICIENCY-FR-FINAL.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }