Energy Indicators for Sustainable Development: Guidelines and Methodologies International Atomic Energy Agency United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs International Energy Agency Eurostat European Environment Agency

Alternative Definitions 
None 
Agenda 21 
Chapter 3: Combating poverty
POLICY RELEVANCE 
(a) Purpose: This indicator provides a measure of energy disparity and affordability. 
The indicator is an assessment of the amount of electricity and fuels used by the 
population relative to income level and the corresponding fuel mix. 
(b) Relevance to Sustainable Development: From a sustainable development 
perspective, it is important to examine income, wealth and in particular affordability 
of modern energy services across the population. A country may have a high per 
capita gross domestic product (GDP), but its income distribution may be so skewed 
that a large percentage of the population has no possibility to meet their needs for 
commercial household energy at current energy prices and private income levels. This 
is particularly relevant to developing countries, where one-third of the population 
does not have access to commercial energy. Therefore, there is a need to increase 

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energy availability and affordability for the lower-income groups of the population in 
many developing countries so as to promote social and economic development. 
(c) International Conventions and Agreements: None. 
(d) International Targets/ Recommended Standards: None. 
(e) Linkages to Other Indicators: This indicator is linked to energy prices and to 
several indicators of the social dimension, such as shares of households without 
access to electricity or heavily dependent on non-commercial energy options, shares 
of income spent on fuel and electricity, etc. The indicator might indirectly reflect a 
related use of forest resources as fuelwood, which in turn could cause deforestation. 
METHODOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION