Brief for GSDR 2015: The centrality of electricity supply for global sustainable development

Kinn, Moshe ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2641-4837 and Abbott, Carl (2015) Brief for GSDR 2015: The centrality of electricity supply for global sustainable development. Discussion Paper. United Nations.

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Abstract

Humanity faces many challenges in the field of sustainable development. Regardless of how sustainability is defined one subject that is very much underrepresented is the importance of electricity at the point of consumption. Electricity is the lifeblood of all modern societies, yet its continual flow is taken for granted. It is only when there is a power cut that we start to appreciate and realise how dependent our daily living standards are on the continuity of its supply. There are many things that can cause an interruption in supply, which can be either caused by humans or nature. In the UK many interruptions of the supply are localised, of a very short duration, are looked at as a minor glitch, and of bearable consequence. But when there is a widespread blackout due to a major incident, then the media and policy makers become vocal and responses are initiated to make the system more robust.