logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2021
23m 36s

Can we run the world on electricity?

Bbc World Service
About this episode

The target for many countries around the world is to reach net zero emissions within the next few decades. That means a dramatic move away from fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas. For some the answer to the problem is to boost “green” electricity production, so that we can run our transport, our homes and our industry on electrical power. We already have a lot of the technology to produce clean electricity. But for hundreds of millions of people around the world, especially in sub-saharan Africa, the real problem is the lack of access to electricity.

Image: Wind turbines and solar panels in Vietnam (Credit: Quang Ngoc Nguyen/Getty Images)

Up next
Today
Can China’s polar silk road change global trade?
Conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt global shipping routes including the Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca. China is now turning to Russia for support in developing an alternative trade path: the Northern Sea Route. On 15 August, China sent its first ship on ... Show More
24m 25s
Sep 8
Can Africa take control of its digital future?
Just under 20 years ago Kenya pioneered the use of mobile money. Since then, other countries in Africa have carved out a share of the digital market for themselves, from gaming in Morocco to artificial intelligence in Tunisia. But the picture is not the same across the whole cont ... Show More
24m 24s
Sep 1
Should rivers have personhood?
River systems around the world are under stress from various factors ranging from pollution, to agriculture, to extractive industries. In some parts of the world there are regulations to help protect rivers, but in a lot of cases these are just preventative measures for a system ... Show More
23m 11s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2022
Is sugarcane the answer to Africa's electricity problems?
Whether you're in South Africa, Nigeria or Egypt, power outages are a frequent inconvenience. As energy demands rise across the continent, generating enough power to keep the lights on is an ongoing challenge. Eswatini is one of the countries trying a new approach - a method call ... Show More
12m 46s
May 2022
How can Africa make the best of its energy resources?
After European nations imposed sanctions on Russia, many are looking to Africa for an alternative energy supply. But while this could be an opportunity for some countries, it also highlights global inequalities when it comes to access to electricity. Alan hears from an energy exp ... Show More
13m 13s
Dec 2024
Our Energy Future: Balancing climate goals with reliable supply
The world is grappling with the need to hit the global Net Zero by 2050 target which means the net amount of greenhouse gases emitted into, and removed from, the atmosphere is zero by that date. All the while providing safe, secure and affordable energy for citizens. A tug of war ... Show More
32m 39s
Oct 2022
Beyond the scope of access to energy
For ~2 B people, clean, affordable, and reliable energy is a luxury. This poses fundamental issues and we need to work together to immediately address the core issues of energy poverty, socioeconomic development, and climate change. Join our expert guests and find out how access ... Show More
29m 49s
Feb 2025
The Energy Story of the Moment: The Unstoppable Rise of Solar Vs. the Unmovable Demand for Global Fossil Fuels
Fans of green energy like me face some inconvenient truths about the global energy picture. First, coal sounds like a dirty technology that the rich world is moving on from. But nearly 9 billion tons of coal were burned last year—an all-time high. Second, "peak oil" is a predicti ... Show More
1h 10m
May 2024
Going green: Can the global south develop without fossil fuel?
Climate anxieties—and global temperatures—are on the rise. According to the United Nations, if the planet warms by 1.5 degrees Celsius, we’ll be facing irreversible climate damage. To stop that increase, we need to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Reaching such an ambitious goal ... Show More
38m 29s
Apr 2024
Is there an energy transition?
Fossil fuels still dominate the world’s energy supplies. Do we need different terminology to talk about what’s happening?We talk about “the energy transition” all the time. But is that language misleading? 20 years ago fossil fuels were 85% of the world’s energy, today they’re ju ... Show More
57m 6s