The inhumanity of the Guardian

A few days ago, Bjorn Lomborg pointed out that the way to provide energy to the destitute in the developing world remains, just it always has been, through the spread of fossil fuels:

Over the past 16 years, nearly every person who gained access to electricity did so through a grid connection, mostly powered by fossil fuels. And yet donors say that many of the 1.1 billion people who are still without electricity should instead try solar panels.

And make no mistake, there is an ongoing campaign to prevent poor people in Africa and elsewhere from enjoying the benefits of fossil fuels. Take yesterday's article in the Guardian (sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation no less).

Wealthy governments have been accused of promoting fossil fuel development in Africa at the expense of clean energy.Analysis showed 60% of public aid for energy projects was spent on fossil fuels, compared with just 18% on renewables.Oil Change International, a clean energy advocacy group that conducted the study, estimated aid to Africa’s energy sector was $59.5bn (£45.3bn) between 2014 and 2016.

In view of Lomborg's observations on how fossil fuels continue to alleviate poverty across the face of the Earth, and what we know about quality of life in these countries, the Guardian's campaign can only be described as entirely inhuman.