Achieving Sustainable Energy in Rural Communities in Ghana

Abstract

The paper uses a range of sustainability-measuring indicators to define and measure sustainable energy in a rural context. The use of fuel wood and charcoal in rural areas has consequences on the environment and human health and ultimately, climate change. Fuel wood and charcoal consumption for example pose threats in through carbon emissions. Though Ghana and most African countries are not heavy carbon emitters, it is important to recognize that fuel wood and charcoal are major sources of residential and industrial energy resource. From the study, it was estimated that household and industrial/commercial fuel wood and charcoal consumption, emitted 24,171 tCO2/year and the net carbon capture was about 112billion tCO2/year. The balance between carbon emitted and capture provides an indication of more room for carbon sequestration in the area and its environs; however high growth in fuel consumption coupled with increasing forest reduction and water evaporation (refer to section 4.6.3 on data on evaporation) presents a case for concern over the years.