It is widely recognized that it is the poorest people who will be hit first and hardest by the impacts of climate change. Climate variability and change, as well as an increasing frequency and intensity of extreme events, will have substantial impacts on societies. This paper argues that energy access is the golden thread that connects development, adaptation and mitigation. It posits that energy is a crucial feature of a resilient household,
community or country, and that development programmes addressing adaptation
should consider components relating to increasing and securing energy access services, alongside other vital resources such as water, land, food, shelter and biodiversity.
