Rural Energy Demand and Climate Change Adaptation in Ghana

Abstract

This paper applies a cross-sectional and prospective study designs to explore the nexus between energy forms in rural areas in Ghana and prevailing climate change impact indicators. The results indicate that rural energy forms in Ghana are mainly fuel wood and charcoal, with limited number of modern energy forms. These dominant energy forms affect and are affected by climate indices that were studied in this paper; which were rainfall, surface temperature and evaporation. There is continual increase in demand for fuel wood and charcoal across different altitude and economic zones in rural communities and this phenomenon will continue even with increased access to modern energy forms like electricity and LPG. The analysis also shows that with increasing demand and slow forest cover regeneration; there was a deficit in fuel wood supply even though there is surplus charcoal supply. This phenomenon threatens energy access and climate change in rural communities.