Global Energy Necessary to Fight COVID

The fight against COVID-19 infections is different for many countries and communities across the world. Resources and infrastructure have proven to be key indicators as to how well a country combats the virus, and basic access to electricity and clean cooking is vital. While many around the world have this necessity, a new report shows a staggering number still don’t have access to these essential modern resources.

In a new report from the World Bank, nearly 790 million people around the world don’t have access to electricity in their lives as of 2018. While this is down from 1.2 billion in 2010, it’s still an unfathomable number of people who are at a significant disadvantage when trying to treat COVID-19.

Clean cooking is another factor that can help against the virus, and the report shows that 2.8 billion people in the world don’t have access to clean cooking – down from 3 billion in 2010. Unsanitary food can drastically affect the spread of COVID-19, and with roughly 36 percent of the world without access to clean cooking, the spread could continue despite other preventative measures taking place.

Renewable energy was also a major focus of the report, and the findings show while progress has been made, there's just a 1 percent difference between 2010 and 2018 in total global energy consumption from renewable sources. For those without access to electricity and clean cooking, renewable energy could be a pathway for them to safely obtain these essential resources. However, progress on the infrastructure of renewable energy along with high costs have prevented a large growth over the past decade.