23 May 2012: Nigel Bruce, World Health Organization (WHO) consultant, has published a blog piece titled “Putting health at the heart of planning for universal energy access” on the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves website. The website draws links among energy access, health, economic development and climate change.

Bruce argues that in the quest for universal energy access, health needs to be at par with economic development, as well as environmental and climate change factors for three reasons: “the large health benefits that stand to be gained, the need to plan now for health in policy, and the added momentum that will come from engaging the international health community.”

Noting the various intersections between energy access and health, particularly highlighting effects of household air pollution to human health, he calls for more concrete research into ways universal energy access will benefit health. In addition, Bruce notes that energy production, distribution and consumption all have consequences for health, and calls for the consideration of their health consequences as part of decision-making processes. He stresses the importance of involving the international healthcare community in raising awareness, information provision, and evaluation to “add to the momentum for change,” in order for health and energy access to be considered more holistically by policymakers. [Blog Piece: Putting Health at the Heart of Planning for Universal Energy Access]