While world leaders gathered in Brussels to debate energy efficiency, Lesotho’s voice, delivered powerfully by His Majesty King Letsie III, reminded them of a crucial truth that global energy challenges cannot be solved without addressing the plight of the world’s poorest, especially women and girls.
Speaking at the 10th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency, King Letsie III highlighted how energy poverty in countries like Lesotho perpetuates environmental harm and deepens gender inequality.
“Unlike in developed countries, where energy efficiency is about trimming excess, for Africa, and especially Lesotho, it is about building access,” he said. “It is about ensuring that energy reaches everyone affordably, reliably, and sustainably.”
The King painted a vivid picture of the harsh realities in Lesotho, where winter temperatures in the highlands can drop to below freezing point. With no access to clean energy, families rely on wood and charcoal for cooking and heating, fuelling deforestation, respiratory illnesses, and gender disparities.
“Indoor air pollution, caused by traditional fuel use, is not just a health crisis, it is a gender issue,” he said, noting that women and girls spend hours collecting firewood, losing time for education and economic opportunities. This, he warned, reinforces cycles of poverty and limits national development.
To address this, Lesotho has crafted a national energy efficiency strategy focused on sustainable housing and climate-resilient architecture. “The strategy is now ready for implementation,” King Letsie announced, calling on international partners for investment and technical support.
He also introduced the His Majesty King Letsie III Just Energy Transition Fund (HMK L3 JET Fund), a bold initiative aimed at empowering women through education, training, and leadership in the energy sector.
The conference, co-hosted by EU Commissioner Dan Jørgensen, also heard how Europe is grappling with its own energy crisis, with 47 million Europeans unable to heat their homes last winter. Jørgensen underscored that energy efficiency remains one of the most cost-effective ways to improve lives and tackle climate change.
Ntsoaki Motaung is an award-winning health journalist from Lesotho, specializing in community health stories with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as HIV. She has contributed to platforms like “Be in the KNOW,” highlighting issues such as the exclusion of people with disabilities from HIV prevention efforts in Lesotho.
In addition to her journalism, Ntsoaki serves as the Country Coordinator for the Regional Media Action Plan Support Network (REMAPSEN). She is also a 2023 CPHIA Journalism Fellow.
