Energy Poverty & Nature

Malawi’s deforestation rate is one of the highest in the world. Only in 2017 1% of its tree cover were lost meaning 15.300ha of forest were depleted.[13] That equals an overwhelming area of over 20.000 football pitches!

• However, what exactly happens if trees go? Here are a few of countless effects: The soil which used to be stabilized, shaded and protected by trees becomes vulnerable to erosion and dehydration. As a result, land degradation up to the degree of desertification make it useless for agricultural cultivation (in Malawi an estimated 29 metric tons of soil per hectare are lost each year). Therefor it is hardly possible to meet the demand for food security of the growing Malawian population. Trees are an important part of all kinds of natural cycles that will be disturbed if not completely destroyed due to deforestation with partly unknown consequences (for instance, deforestation has an impact on the water cycle leading to a decline of water quality and availability).[14] A well-known consequence however is the loss of biological diversity, flora as well as fauna. Last but not least, trees are most probably human´s only chance to tackle climate change with its various adverse impacts. They transform carbon dioxide (which reinforces global warming) to oxygen (which is dearly needed for humans to thrive).[15]
• One of the reasons why the pressure on Malawian forests is so strong is the significant demand for biomass naming fuel wood and charcoal which are both won from trees. Due to their inefficiency the commonly used three-stone fires consume huge quantities of wood. If used sustainably meaning trees are replaced at the same rate as they are depleted biomass could be a renewable source of energy. However, due to high demand and little awareness most forests are felled without proper reforestation.
• Ironically, deforestation is not only a result of energy poverty but also a reason for it. Soil erosion and siltation from deforestation lower the water level. Thus, less power can be generated from hydroelectric power plants leading to a decrease of the already limited energy supply. This in turn makes more people depend on wood to meet their energy needs.[16]

A completely different area that shows us the environmental effect of unsustainable energy is pollution of soil and ground water. Unclean sources of energy often have toxic impacts if not disposed correctly, e.g. random throwing away of one-way battery cells (toxic, corrosive, acidic!!).

• Most Malawian households use torches powered by one way dry cell batteries. The problem with one-way battery cells is that they have a limited lifespan after which they need to be disposed and replaced. It would be best to recycle them as they contain valuable natural resources, however in Malawi we do not have the technology and expertise to do this in a safe and environmentally friendly way. In reality these batteries are often landfilled which is very harmful to the environment as they release toxic substances such as cadmium, lead, mercury, copper, zinc, manganese, lithium or potassium, which are all hazardous to the environment and also to human health. These harmful substances permeate into the soil, groundwater and surface water through landfills and also release toxins into the air when they are burnt.[17]