(e) Linkages to Other Indicators: This indicator is linked to the use of non-
commercial fuels, to energy prices and to several indicators of the social dimension,
such as income inequality, share of household income spent on fuel and electricity,
energy use relative to income level, urbanization, etc. The indicator might indirectly
reflect a related use of forest resources as fuelwood, which in turn could cause
deforestation. METHODOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION (a) Underlying Definitions and Concepts: Consumption of traditional fuels refers to
the non-commercial consumption of fuelwood, charcoal, bagasse, and animal and
vegetable wastes. Total household energy use might comprise commercial energy as
well as traditional (non-commercial) fuels. Households choose among energy options on the basis of fuel accessibility and
affordability, the household’s socioeconomic characteristics and attitudes, and the
attributes of the different fuels. Lack of access to commercial energy implies
unsatisfied energy requirements or the use of traditional fuels. If commercial energy
services and electricity are available, income is the main characteristic that appears to
influence a household’s choice of fuel. Different income groups use different fuels,
and the poor in many developing countries to a great extent meet their energy demand
using traditional biomass fuels, either because of a lack of access to commercial
energy services or because of limited income. National shares of traditional fuel in
total energy use do not accurately reflect this indicator, as the average figures may
strongly differ from corresponding figures for each income group of the population.
Therefore, the preferred indicator is the percentage of households or population with
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no access to commercial energy options, or heavily dependent on ‘traditional’ non-
commercial energy options, such as wood, crop wastes and animal dung.
