Expert Workshop on Energy Access and Climate Mitigation: Synergies and Trade-offs

This report summarizes an expert workshop held in Nairobi, Kenya, on April 10-11, 2014, organized by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). The workshop, part of the New Climate Economy project, examined the synergies and trade-offs between expanding modern energy access and mitigating climate change, focusing primarily on the African context.

• Low-carbon options have not yet fundamentally changed the barriers to expanding modern energy access in Africa. These persistent obstacles include high supply costs for rural households, a lack of reliable financing, weak implementing capacity, and low consumer ability to pay. While some niche successes exist, such as solar-water heaters in South Africa, they have not scaled widely.
• To fully realize the potential of low-carbon options, energy access must be redefined beyond simple grid connections to a systemic approach focused on inclusive development and poverty alleviation. This involves providing energy services at a scale suitable for productive purposes, as seen in the Total Energy Approach promoted by Practical Action.
• There is a significant gap in the evidence base needed to convince policymakers to prioritize low-carbon pathways. While the emissions impact of basic energy access is often negligible, low-carbon options are typically only attractive to planners if they are cheaper than conventional options. More data is required on the relationship between renewables and job creation, as well as disaggregated household data on the capacity to pay.
• Transitioning to a low-carbon energy future requires overcoming deeply entrenched vested interests, particularly those tied to fossil fuel extraction industries in countries where these revenues constitute a large share of national income. Framing energy access as an issue of energy security, such as reducing foreign exchange spending on petroleum imports, may help gain political traction.
• National governments must provide central leadership and a clear vision to mainstream low-carbon energy access, as donor funding alone is insufficient for achieving universal access. Necessary government actions include creating economic instruments like Feed-in Tariffs (FIT), establishing ring-fenced funds, and ensuring budget allocations are sustained beyond political terms. Morocco is cited as an example of commitment to universal electrification.
• A supportive enabling environment is required to scale low-carbon technologies, specifically regarding access to appropriate financing and the development of local capacity. To avoid the failure of stand-alone technologies, such as solar lanterns, there must be a focus on the receiving end of technology transfer, including maintenance, spare parts, and after-sales support.

APA

Jürisoo, M., Pachauri, S., Lambe, F., & Johnson, O. (2014). Expert Workshop on Energy Access and Climate Mitigation: Synergies and Trade-offs. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Projects/Climate/SEI-IIASA-Workshop-report-2014-energy-access-climate-Africa.pdf

Chicago

Jürisoo, Marie, Shonali Pachauri, Fiona Lambe, and Oliver Johnson. Expert Workshop on Energy Access and Climate Mitigation: Synergies and Trade-offs. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2014. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Projects/Climate/SEI-IIASA-Workshop-report-2014-energy-access-climate-Africa.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Jürisoo |first1=Marie |last2=Pachauri |first2=Shonali |last3=Lambe |first3=Fiona |last4=Johnson |first4=Oliver |title=Expert Workshop on Energy Access and Climate Mitigation: Synergies and Trade-offs |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2014 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Projects/Climate/SEI-IIASA-Workshop-report-2014-energy-access-climate-Africa.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{jrisoo2014expert, author = {Jürisoo, Marie and Pachauri, Shonali and Lambe, Fiona and Johnson, Oliver}, title = {{Expert Workshop on Energy Access and Climate Mitigation: Synergies and Trade-offs}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2014}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Projects/Climate/SEI-IIASA-Workshop-report-2014-energy-access-climate-Africa.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }