Wood and charcoal provide the major energy resources for most residents of developing countries, especially for cooking and heating. To these people, the real energy crisis is the disappearing sources of inexpensive or free wood for fuel, along with deforestation. The persistence of mass poverty in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa limits access to these resources. Pitfalls in energy sustainability erode gains in the potential for human development and environmental sustenance.

Access to adequate and appropriate energy resources has implications for the economic, social, and ecological dimensions of both local and global development. Energy is a necessary requirement for sustainable development. The commercial energy sector has powered recent gains in global economic growth and has been the main driver in the globalization of the world economy. ...