Electricity inequality around the world

Can we reduce fossil fuels and reduce electricity inequality?

As world leaders continue to establish objectives to reduce CO2, albeit with limited success, it is worth considering electricity use and inequality. Similar to the post on World Energy Consumption, I will use three graphs and fewer words.

First up, Figure 1, is electricity use by continent. Electricity consumption has increased globally, but especially in Asia and Oceania. It is fascinating to see the modest drops caused by the 2008 recession and, more recently, COVID.

Figure 1: Data from the EIA

Hopefully, you're thinking, "What about that data rule?" Normalize properly; ask, "Per what?" Figure 1 is useful for establishing how much energy the globe consumes, but it also conceals a great deal of disparity, although the fact that Africa consumes so little clearly suggests a lot of inequality.

Figure 2 shows per capita use for Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Keep in mind that electricity usage might be somewhat misleading in terms of total energy consumption. For example, you can heat a home with oil or create electricity by burning coal to heat a home. In the first situation, we do not record the energy used. Still, electrical usage is a pretty good indicator of overall income and comfort.

Figure 2: Data from the EIA and Census Bureau

In Figure 2, I was surprised to see that Canada uses more electricity per person than the United States, but the main point is the difference between the United States and Canada in comparison to Mexico. Take a moment to consider how large this disparity is. If you live in the United States, could you lower your electricity consumption by 80%, from 12,500 kWh to 2,500 kWh? What would that mean for how you live?

Before I get to my main point, let's look at Figure 3, which compares the United States to other countries and the continent of Africa. Africa as a continent consumes less electricity per capita, with Nigeria using half of what Mexico consumes. Meanwhile, Brazil is on par with Mexico.

Figure 3: Data from the EIA and the Census Bureau

China, on the other hand, has drastically boosted its electricity use, although it is still using roughly half of what the United States does. They have accomplished this mostly by burning coal. Can we blame them? Electricity makes our lives much easier, and they desire the same conveniences as wealthier countries.

I regard lowering CO2 emissions and boosting poorer countries' living standards as connected aims that, for the time being, are at odds. Do we add wind and solar to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, or do we add wind and solar to enhance access to energy in developing countries? The truth is that if a country like the United States cuts its usage of fossil fuels, there will be plenty of other countries eager to use those fossil resources to improve their standard of living. I don't think climate activists, who are often wealthy, understand this.

What I'd like to see is an argument for a goal of a minimal level of electricity use for all people that we can say supports a fair standard of living, followed by what it would take to get there, with or without fossil fuels. This would at least give us a sense of what would be required and whether it was possible.

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Disagreeing and using comments

I'd rather know the truth and understand the world than always be right. I'm not writing to upset or antagonize anyone on purpose, though I guess that could happen. I welcome dissent and disagreement in the comments. We all should be forced to articulate our viewpoints and change our minds when we need to, but we should also know that we can respectfully disagree and move on. So, if you think something said is wrong or misrepresented, then please share your viewpoint in the comments.