unsatisfied , then the process of structural transformation may be slowed down or disrupted .
Consequently , complementary industrial , enterprise and development policies are needed to promote increased demand for electricity for productive uses , to ensure that demand is sufficient to make the necessary investments in generation , transformation and distribution viable .
The key role of the energy – transformation nexus in sustainable development highlights the critical importance of fully integrating energy access plans with overall development strategies . Increasing access to modern energy can only be effective in promoting structural transformation in conjunction with an overall development strategy oriented towards this objective .
Tackling supply side constraints within a context of strong demand growth and investment dynamism is a key factor . Moreover , close coordination between energy and development strategies is essential , to match the evolution of energy supply and demand , both geographically and over time .
Reaping the full benefits of the energy – transformation nexus also requires complementary policies to foster economic diversification and job creation .
Why the Nights are Getting Brighter – but not in a Good Way - BOAO
The world ’ s nights are getting alarmingly brighter – bad news for all sorts of creatures , humans included – as light pollution encroaches on darkness almost everywhere .
Satellite observations made by researchers during five consecutive Octobers show the Earth ’ s artificially lit outdoor area grew by 2 % a year from 2012 to 2016 . So did night time brightness .
Light pollution was even worse than that , according to the German-led team , because the sensor used cannot detect some of the LED lighting that is becoming more widespread , specifically blue light .
The observations indicate stable levels of night light in the US , the Netherlands , Spain and Italy . But light pollution is almost certainly on the rise in those countries given this elusive blue light , according to Christopher Kyba of the GFZ German research centre for geosciences and the lead author of the study published in Science Advances .
Also on the rise , is the spread of light into the hinterlands and its overall increased use . The findings shatter the long-held notion that more energy-efficient lighting would decrease usage on the global – or at least a national – scale .
The biological impact from surging artificial light is also significant , according to the researchers .
People ’ s sleep can be marred , which in turn can affect their health . The migration and reproduction of birds , fish , amphibians , insects and bats can be disrupted . Plants can have abnormally extended growing periods . And forget about seeing stars or the Milky Way if the trend continues .
About the only places with dramatic declines in night light were in areas of conflict such as Syria and Yemen , the researchers found . Australia also reported a noticeable drop , but that was because wildfires were raging early in the study . Researchers were unable to filter out the bright burning light .
Asia , Africa and South America , for the most part , saw a surge in artificial night lighting .
More and more places are installing outdoor lighting , given its low cost and the overall growth in communities ’ wealth , the scientists noted . Urban sprawl is also moving towns farther out . The outskirts of major cities in developing nations were brightening quite rapidly .
“ Many people are using light at night without really thinking about the cost ,” Holker said . Not just the economic cost , “ but also the cost that you have to pay from an ecological , environmental perspective ”.
Kyba and his colleagues recommend avoiding glaring lamps whenever possible – choosing amber over so-called white LEDs – and using more efficient ways to illuminate places such as parking lots or city streets .
A Better Battery : Oon Yeoh , NST
Moore ’ s Law states that processing power of transistors will double every 18 months . Unfortunately , there is no Moore ’ s Law for batteries , which seem to be lagging further and further behind smart phone advances with each passing year .
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