Sustainable energy and the fight against poverty

Although 2012 has been proclaimed International Year of Sustainable Energy for All, there has been little progress made in terms of reducing the energy gap in developing countries. The role of renewable energy systems remains uncertain, even though their development is generally supposed to provide universal access to energy. However, there exist low-carbon solutions that ensure access to energy for poor populations and offer them the opportunity to make the most of their privileged access to biomass in the form of energy vectors. Based on a precise assessment of resources and needs of the target populations, certain innovative projects enable real progress to be made in addressing the link between sustainable energy and the fight against poverty. This article analyses the principles underlying three such projects dealing with different energy chains : rural electrification in Morocco, sustainable management of the domestic fuel supply in Niamey, Niger, and production of biofuels in contract farming schemes in West Africa.Alors que 2012 a été déclarée année de internationale de l'énergie durable pour tous, les progrès en termes de réduction de la fracture énergétique dans les pays du Sud restent modestes. Le rôle des énergies renouvelables reste incertain, partant que leur développement entraînera l'accès pour tous à l'énergie. Pourtant, des solutions sobres en carbone existent pour assurer aux populations pauvres un accès à l'énergie et leur donner l'occasion de valoriser sous forme de vecteurs énergétiques leur accès privilégié biomasse. Basés sur un diagnostic précis des ressources et des besoins des populations cibles, certains projets innovants permettent de réelles avancées dans le traitement de l'articulation entre énergie durable et lutte contre la pauvreté. Cet article se propose d'analyser les principes qui sous-tendent trois de ces projets, traitant de filières énergétiques différentes : l’électrification rurale au Maroc, la gestion durable de l'approvisionnement en combustibles domestiques de Niamey au Niger et la production de biocarburant dans des schémas d’agriculture contractualisée en Afrique de l'Ouest.Si bien 2012 ha sido declarado Año Internacional de la Energía Sostenible para todos, los avances realizados para reducir la brecha energética en los países del hemisferio Sur siguen siendo moderados. El papel de las energías renovables sigue siendo incierto, partiendo de que su desarrollo conllevará el acceso a la energía para todo el mundo. No obstante, existen soluciones con un bajo nivel de emisiones de carbono para que las poblaciones pobres puedan acceder a la energía y brindarles la oportunidad de valorar su acceso privilegiado a la biomasa en forma de vectores energéticos. Sobre la base de un diagnóstico preciso de los recursos y las necesidades de las poblaciones objetivo, algunos proyectos innovadores permiten efectuar avances reales en el tratamiento de la articulación entre energía sostenible y lucha contra la pobreza. En este artículo nos proponemos analizar los principios subyacentes a tres de estos proyectos, que tratan de distintos sectores energéticos : la electrificación rural en Marruecos, la gestión sostenible del abastecimiento de combustibles domésticos en Niamey (Níger) y la producción de biocarburante dentro de los programas de agricultura contractual en África occidental

Sustainable energy and the fight against poverty

Although 2012 has been proclaimed International Year of Sustainable Energy for All, there has been little progress made in terms of reducing the energy gap in developing countries. The role of renewable energy systems remains uncertain, even though their development is generally supposed to provide universal access to energy. However, there exist low-carbon solutions that ensure access to energy for poor populations and offer them the opportunity to make the most of their privileged access to biomass in the form of energy vectors. Based on a precise assessment of resources and needs of the target populations, certain innovative projects enable real progress to be made in addressing the link between sustainable energy and the fight against poverty. This article analyses the principles underlying three such projects dealing with different energy chains : rural electrification in Morocco, sustainable management of the domestic fuel supply in Niamey, Niger, and production of biofuels in contract farming schemes in West Africa.Alors que 2012 a été déclarée année de internationale de l'énergie durable pour tous, les progrès en termes de réduction de la fracture énergétique dans les pays du Sud restent modestes. Le rôle des énergies renouvelables reste incertain, partant que leur développement entraînera l'accès pour tous à l'énergie. Pourtant, des solutions sobres en carbone existent pour assurer aux populations pauvres un accès à l'énergie et leur donner l'occasion de valoriser sous forme de vecteurs énergétiques leur accès privilégié biomasse. Basés sur un diagnostic précis des ressources et des besoins des populations cibles, certains projets innovants permettent de réelles avancées dans le traitement de l'articulation entre énergie durable et lutte contre la pauvreté. Cet article se propose d'analyser les principes qui sous-tendent trois de ces projets, traitant de filières énergétiques différentes : l’électrification rurale au Maroc, la gestion durable de l'approvisionnement en combustibles domestiques de Niamey au Niger et la production de biocarburant dans des schémas d’agriculture contractualisée en Afrique de l'Ouest.Si bien 2012 ha sido declarado Año Internacional de la Energía Sostenible para todos, los avances realizados para reducir la brecha energética en los países del hemisferio Sur siguen siendo moderados. El papel de las energías renovables sigue siendo incierto, partiendo de que su desarrollo conllevará el acceso a la energía para todo el mundo. No obstante, existen soluciones con un bajo nivel de emisiones de carbono para que las poblaciones pobres puedan acceder a la energía y brindarles la oportunidad de valorar su acceso privilegiado a la biomasa en forma de vectores energéticos. Sobre la base de un diagnóstico preciso de los recursos y las necesidades de las poblaciones objetivo, algunos proyectos innovadores permiten efectuar avances reales en el tratamiento de la articulación entre energía sostenible y lucha contra la pobreza. En este artículo nos proponemos analizar los principios subyacentes a tres de estos proyectos, que tratan de distintos sectores energéticos : la electrificación rural en Marruecos, la gestión sostenible del abastecimiento de combustibles domésticos en Niamey (Níger) y la producción de biocarburante dentro de los programas de agricultura contractual en África occidental

Sustainable energy and the fight against poverty

Although 2012 has been proclaimed International Year of Sustainable Energy for All, there has been little progress made in terms of reducing the energy gap in developing countries. The role of renewable energy systems remains uncertain, even though their development is generally supposed to provide universal access to energy. However, there exist low-carbon solutions that ensure access to energy for poor populations and offer them the opportunity to make the most of their privileged access to biomass in the form of energy vectors. Based on a precise assessment of resources and needs of the target populations, certain innovative projects enable real progress to be made in addressing the link between sustainable energy and the fight against poverty. This article analyses the principles underlying three such projects dealing with different energy chains : rural electrification in Morocco, sustainable management of the domestic fuel supply in Niamey, Niger, and production of biofuels in contract farming schemes in West Africa

A generalized polynomial and sinusoidal model for partial tracking and time stretching

In this article, we introduce a new generalized model based on polynomials and sinusoids for partial tracking and time stretching. Nowadays, most partial tracking algorithms are based on the McAulay-Quatieri approach and use polynomials for phase, frequency, and amplitude tracks. Some sinusoidal approaches have also been proved to work in certain conditions. We will present here an unified model using both approaches, which will allow more flexible partial tracking and time stretching

Endoscopic Follow-up of Low Grade Precancerous Bronchial Lesions in High-Risk Patients: long-term results of the SELEPREBB randomized multicentre trial

International audienceBackground Three to 9% of low-grade pre-invasive bronchial lesions progress to cancer. This study assessed the usefulness of an intensive bronchoscopy surveillance strategy in patients with bronchial lesions up to moderate squamous dysplasia. Methods SELEPREBB ( NCT00213603 ) was a randomized study conducted in 17 French centers. After baseline lung CT-scan and autofluorescence bronchoscopy (AFB) excluding lung cancer and bronchial severe squamous dysplasia or carcinoma in situ (CIS), patients were assigned to standard surveillance (arm A) with CT and AFB at 36 months or to intensive surveillance (arm B) including AFB every 6 months. Further long term data were obtained with a median follow-up of 4.7 years. Results 364 patients were randomized (A: 180, B: 184). Twenty-seven patients developed invasive lung cancer and 2 developed persistent CIS during the study, without difference between arms (OR=0.63, 95% CI=[0.20–1.96], p=0.42). Mild or moderate dysplasia at baseline bronchoscopy was a significant lung cancer risk factor both at 3 years (8/74 patients, OR=6.9, 95% CI=[2.5–18.9], p<0.001) and at maximum follow-up (16/74, patients, OR=5.9, 95% CI=[2.9–12.0]). Smoking cessation was significantly associated with clearance of bronchial dysplasia on follow-up (OR=0.12, 95% CI=[0.01–0.66], p=0.005) and with a reduced risk of lung cancer at 5 years (OR=0.15, 95% CI=[0.003–0.99], p=0.04). Conclusion Patients with mild or moderate dysplasia are at very high-risk for lung cancer at 5 years, with smoking cessation significantly reducing the risk. Whereas an intensive bronchoscopy surveillance does not improve patient's outcome, the identification of bronchial dysplasia using initial bronchoscopy maybe useful for risk stratification strategies in lung cancer screening programs