Energy supply – improving living conditions and production processes

A woman standing beside a lamp that illuminates a table.
Access to electricity makes cooking and heating easier for poor sections of the population. © Fondation Antenna Technologies

Secure and affordable energy supply improves people’s living conditions as well as production processes, both of which are vital to sustainable development, poverty reduction and climate protection. The SDC’s Global Programme Climate Change promotes access to clean and renewable energy, energy efficiency and clean air. 

SDC activities

Social and economic development without access to clean, efficient and renewable energy and to clean air is virtually impossible. Better living conditions are dependent upon these factors, among others. The Global Programme Climate Change focuses on three areas of activity:

  1. Access to clean and renewable energy
  2. Promotion of energy efficiency
  3. Contribution to clean air 

Widespread access to modern and renewable energy boosts the economy and helps people to cope better with the consequences of climate change. In India, for example, the Global Programme Climate Change promotes innovative technologies to ensure the energy needs of the population in rural areas are met. At global level, the SDC supports “Energising Development” (EnDev), a partnership between several countries that provides poor families with access to electricity and heat supply. This makes cooking easier and heating possible which in turn has a positive impact on human health and the environment as deforestation is reduced.

Switzerland has extensive experience of energy efficiency and the relevant technology and science. The SDC is therefore helping small and medium-sized companies through the Global Programme Climate Change, for example with the energy-efficient production of bricks and other construction materials. Such knowledge transfer enables energy to be saved and greenhouse gas emissions to be cut – especially in emerging economies.

The SDC promotes multilateral platforms and projects geared towards efficient and clean technologies. In Latin America, for example, the SDC supports the introduction of clean diesel engines in urban buses. It is also campaigning for legislation containing measures for clean air.

With its three complementary areas of activity, the SDC is making a contribution to raising awareness of and gearing efforts towards energy sustainability in developing countries and emerging economies. The well-conceived management of natural resources and lower dependence upon fossil fuels help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and related conflicts.

Background

Around 1.6 billion people worldwide have no access to electricity and over 2.5 billion still rely solely on biomass, primarily wood, for cooking and heating.

A lack of access to modern forms of energy prevents development and has an adverse effect on health. Flue gases in open fireplaces are a case in point. Fluctuating energy prices and dependence on fossil fuels represent further risks, particularly for poor and vulnerable sections of the population. 

Around two-thirds of global CO2 emissions are produced by energy consumption. The growing demand for energy, in particular in developing countries and emerging economies, as well as high levels of coal consumption, are causing CO2 emissions to rise. This underlines the fact that energy supply, the fight against poverty and alleviating the effects of climate change are closely interlinked. The associated challenges must be tackled comprehensively.

Current challenges

Energy is crucial to sustainable development in many respects. Access to affordable energy is a key requirement for improved production in agriculture and industry and therefore also plays a vital role in reducing hunger and poverty.

Clean energy contributes to better management of all resources as, for example, fewer forests are cut down and water cycles are maintained. Achieving development targets also means finding solutions to energy issues. Providing poor sections of the population with better access to energy services and ensuring they are eco-friendly and efficient are challenges for development cooperation.

 

Links

Current projects

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Solar Irrigation for Agriculture Resilience (SoLAR)

01.07.2024 - 31.07.2027

To adapt to climate change farmers rely increasingly on irrigation, ultimately depleting groundwater resources and raising energy demand. The project aims to address these challenges by promoting solar irrigation, water efficient agriculture and groundwater governance. The project will harness Swiss expertise on hydrogeology and technical innovations to contribute to climate resilient agriculture and facilitate knowledge sharing in South Asia and at the global level.


Clean Air Project in India (CAP India)

01.07.2024 - 30.06.2027

India is one of the most severely affected countries by air pollution in the world. This project will contribute to India’s new National Clean Air Programme, with the aim to improve air quality with co-benefits on public health, environment and climate change. Capacity building and technical assistance through Swiss expertise will support data measurement and analysis, city level clean air action plans and awareness raising campaigns to take precautionary measures and mitigate air pollution.


Adaptation to Climate Change in Mountains

01.12.2023 - 30.09.2027

Mountain ecosystems and societies are particularly sensitive to climate change. Targeted adaptation measures are essential to increase the resilience of livelihoods and ecosystems in mountains. The programme will harness Swiss expertise and generate information on climate change impacts and related adaptation strategies in mountains and feed them into regional science-policy platforms and global policy frameworks for adaptation planning in mountains.


Bangladesh Microinsurance Market Development Programme

01.07.2023 - 31.12.2026

This programme takes forward Switzerland’s global and in-country experience in working on agricultural microinsurance by addressing critical climate risks, hazards and resulting economic shocks for farming people. The programme will sustainably increase resilience of farmers and related micro and small enterprises through climate change adaptation practices, and stimulate sustainable and inclusive growth across multiple agricultural sub-sectors.


REGLEAU - Renforcement de la gouvernance locale de l’eau et de l’assainissement

01.04.2023 - 31.07.2025

Ce projet vise à renforcer les capacités de six communes d’Haïti afin qu'elles puissent fournir des services d'eau potable et d'assainissement résilients aus risques et catastrophes à la population. En vue de la fin de la coopération bilatérale de la Suisse en Haïti, la phase II consolide et met à l'échelle les acquis de la première phase et intègre des approches du projet direct humanitaire « Réduction des Risques de Catastrophes Naturelles ».


Pakistan: Floods 2022 Event Analysis, Swat

01.04.2023 - 31.12.2023

Pakistan experienced heavy rains and high temperatures during the monsoon season 2022. This caused major floods and resulted in losses of lives and damage across the country. Flash floods in the mountainous terrains of Swat Valley washed away entire road sections, bridges and other infrastructure. Switzerland’s contribution with the Event Analysis will provide learnings for better preparedness for future disasters and allow to derive concrete "build back better" measures.


Cholera Response Mozambique 2023

07.02.2023 - 31.07.2023

A cholera crisis is spreading across Southern Africa. Malawi is undergoing the wost crisis since years. Numerous cases have also been diagnosed in Mozambique, where the epidemy is developing very fast since January 2023 . This contribution aims at containing the spread of the outbreak through Infection and Prevention Control (IPC) measures as well as medical treatment of people affected by cholera in Mozambique.


Improving the National Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) capacities of Mongolia

20.01.2023 - 31.12.2024

The intervention seeks to improve the national emergency response capacities of Mongolia in the area of Urban Search And Rescue (USAR). In Mongolia, USAR services are delivered by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Capacity building will be pursued through a selection of measures with special focus on targeted training in USAR techniques on the newly built training facilities, as well as support for organizational and operational conceptualization.


Sustainable Natural Resources Management (NRM) for Enhanced Pastoralist Food Security in the Borana Zone, Ethiopia.

01.01.2023 - 31.12.2027

Natural resources, particularly water and pasture, are among the key determinants of pastoralist livelihoods’ sustainability. The proposed Project contributes to the outcomes of the SDC’s Food Security Domain as stipulated in the Swiss Cooperation Strategy Horn of Africa. It aims at improving pastoralist food security and adaptive capacities in the lowlands of Borana Zone, Southern Ethiopia, through enhancing the sustainable management of natural resources.


Support to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification UNCCD

01.01.2023 - 31.12.2024

More than 100 countries are affected by desertification, and 42% of the world’s poor live in these areas, posing a serious challenge to sustainable development. The United Nations’ Convention to Combat Desertification works at avoiding, reducing, and reversing desertification, linking sustainable land management to social and economic development. Switzerland, Party to the Convention, provides a core and an additional voluntary financing to specifically contribute to common priorities.


Improving Community Resilience through Sustainable Livelihoods in the Rasht Valley, Tajikistan

01.12.2022 - 30.11.2027

The contribution to the Aga Khan Foundation project aims at improving the resilience of livelihoods of the remote rural communities of Rasht valley, vulnerable to climate change. The local population will get equitable access to water and sanitation and childcare services. The population and particularly women will get income generation opportunities and engage in management, regeneration and protection of their natural resources while adopting disaster risk reduction measures and practices.


ICIMOD - Contribution to the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

01.12.2022 - 31.12.2026

ICIMOD is a regional intergovernmental knowledge and learning center serving its eight member countries in the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region. SDC support towards strengthening ICIMOD’s role as an enabler of regional cooperation and informed policy dialogue will benefit mountain communities through green, climate resilient and inclusive development, while profiting from Swiss thematic expertise.

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