---
title: "Characterizing Energy Access, Climate Change, and Innovation"
summary: |-
  Energy innovation has largely been left out of the debate over OPIC’s role in financing energy access projects in developing countries.
date: "2014-03-27"
issues: ["Clean Energy Innovation"]
authors: ["Matthew Stepp"]
content_type: "Op-Eds & Contributed Articles"
canonical_url: "https://itif.org/publications/2014/03/27/characterizing-energy-access-climate-change-and-innovation/"
---

# Characterizing Energy Access, Climate Change, and Innovation

The environment and development communities are squared off in a fight about the Overseas Private Investment Corporation’s role in increasing global energy access over renewables vs. natural gas. But what both parties are missing is the importance of developing and supporting a robust global energy innovation ecosystem that can lead to breakthroughs that will make clean energy cheap everywhere.

---
*Source: Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF)*
*URL: https://itif.org/publications/2014/03/27/characterizing-energy-access-climate-change-and-innovation/*