Notice the sunshine in the desert

The Sahara desert alone can capture enough solar energy to supply all the world's electricity needs and more, a United Nations report says.

"Deserts are a great expanse of land, and have great potential to supply much, much more," Shafaqat Kakakhel, deputy executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) told IPS at the launch of a report on the deserts to mark Environment Day.

"The report says that one solar park which would sit within the Sahara could supply all the energy needs of the world," he said. "Of course there are many, many complications. But the potential is there."

The report points to the bright side of deserts but while warning also of new dangers that deserts face. Declining water levels is the biggest among them.

(Source: World Business Council for Sustainable Development)

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