Energy challenges in the Global South ^{CEFR B1}

Over 70 percent of the world’s population faces an "energy trilemma": securing reliable electricity, keeping it affordable, and cutting emissions. China’s renewable industry now supplies solar panels, wind turbines, batteries and transmission equipment at large scale. That manufacturing helped push global prices down and made solar and wind deployment financially feasible in South Asia.

The Global South Energy Trilemma Index from Renmin University finds that, since 2000, most Global South countries have improved energy access and security but environmental sustainability remains low. For many low- and middle-income states the main barrier is cost; without cheaper clean technology, dependence on fossil fuels will continue.

Pakistan illustrates the tensions. It faces a large investment deficit and suffers from currency instability, circular debt and volatile foreign investment. The country relies on imported technology, and earlier coal plants built under a major international initiative still impose fixed payments that reduce fiscal space for new clean projects. Climate shocks such as the 2022 floods also damaged power infrastructure, increasing urgency for deeper technology transfer and local manufacturing support.