Leaving no one behind

摘要

TO ACCELERATE THE IMPLEMENTATION of Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, the global community must outline the best strategies for affordable and concrete solutions. According to Li Yong, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), small hydropower is one such simple, affordable, and practical low-cost solution. Writing in the foreword of the recent World Small Hydropower Development Report which was published in late 2019, Yong said that when implemented with environmental and socio-economic aspects in mind, small hydro can simultaneously improve access to energy from renewable sources for remote and vulnerable rural communities, offer employment opportunities for youth, expand possibilities for growth for small-scale businesses, and contribute to combatting climate change. Furthermore, the technology is easily adaptable for local conditions as well as various geographical and infrastructural circumstances, and installations come with the lowest electricity generation prices in comparison to other off-grid technologies.