Umair Gaines
A world without electricity is a scary prospect. While the world has survived and the population grown without it, modern life is now heavily dependent on electricity. A large electromagnetic pulse (EMP) or geomagnetic disturbance (GMD) event could cause a long-term power outage, threatening modern medicine, sanitation, food production and distribution, and law and order. Experts predict that an EMP strike could lead to the death of 90% of the population, with people dying from starvation, lack of water, and social disruption. While some may argue that people will adapt and survive by migrating to rural areas and growing their own food, the loss of electricity would undoubtedly cause widespread chaos and devastation.
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What You'll Learn
Lack of access to healthcare and medicine
Access to electricity is critical for quality healthcare provision. According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll), close to one billion people in low- and lower-middle-income countries are served by healthcare facilities with unreliable electricity or no electricity access. This accounts for 64% of healthcare facilities in these countries.
Electricity is essential for powering critical and life-saving medical devices, as well as basic services such as lighting, communication, and clean water supply. It is crucial for safe childbirth, vaccination, diagnostics, and emergency response. Without electricity, healthcare services cannot adequately provide essential services, putting lives at risk. For example, power outages can affect the use of medical equipment such as nebulizers, dialysis machines, apnea monitors, and portable oxygen, which are necessary for treating medical conditions such as asthma.
The lack of reliable electricity in healthcare facilities is more prevalent in low-income countries, with Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia having the lowest rates of electrification. In Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 1 in 10 health facilities have no electricity access, and power is unreliable for half of the facilities. In South Asia, 12% of healthcare facilities lack electricity access. This disparity in access to electricity between countries and regions impacts the availability and quality of healthcare, exacerbating existing inequalities.
The World Bank and WHO emphasize the need for decentralized sustainable energy solutions, such as solar photovoltaics systems, which are cost-effective, clean, and rapidly deployable. These solutions can address the urgent need for electrification in healthcare facilities and improve access to healthcare for vulnerable populations. However, the report also highlights the need for parallel investments in new medical equipment to complement electrification strategies fully.
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Inability to control indoor temperature
The loss of electricity would have a devastating impact on society, with up to 90% of the population predicted to perish. One of the critical factors contributing to this high mortality rate is the inability to control indoor temperature.
Heating and cooling systems are essential for maintaining comfortable and safe living environments, particularly in regions with extreme weather conditions. For instance, places like Minnesota in the winter and Arizona in the summer are only inhabitable due to climate control. Without electricity, indoor heating and cooling systems would cease to function, making survival during the hottest and coldest periods extremely challenging.
The absence of climate control would disproportionately affect those without the means to adapt or relocate, potentially leading to fatal cases of heat stroke or hypothermia. Additionally, the loss of heating systems could exacerbate health issues such as hypothermia and respiratory problems, further contributing to the high mortality rate.
The impact of losing indoor temperature control would also extend beyond residential spaces. Commercial and industrial facilities, such as grocery stores and production plants, rely on climate control to maintain the quality and safety of their products. Power outages could disrupt their operations, leading to supply chain issues and reduced access to essential goods and services.
Furthermore, the loss of electricity in healthcare facilities would severely hinder their ability to care for patients, particularly those dependent on temperature-controlled environments and equipment. This would further contribute to the overall mortality rate, as healthcare services would be less equipped to handle the increased demand resulting from heat- and cold-related health issues.
Preparing for prolonged power outages is crucial to mitigate the potential loss of life due to the inability to control indoor temperature. This includes exploring alternative heating and cooling methods, ensuring access to essential supplies, and developing contingency plans for both residential and commercial spaces.
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Water shortages
Water scarcity is a significant issue that is expected to worsen in the coming years. Currently, 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to water, and 2.7 billion experience water scarcity for at least one month per year. This lack of access to clean water and inadequate sanitation expose 2.4 billion people to deadly diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, and other waterborne illnesses. Diarrheal diseases alone claim the lives of two million people annually, mostly children.
The growing demand for water due to population growth and economic activities further exacerbates the problem. Agriculture is the most water-intensive industry, consuming more water than any other sector. Climate change also plays a significant role in water scarcity, altering weather patterns and water availability worldwide. The increasing frequency and severity of droughts and floods impact water systems, causing rivers, lakes, and aquifers to dry up or become too polluted to use.
Water scarcity also affects energy production, which currently accounts for 10% of global water withdrawals. Hydropower and thermoelectric power, the two most common forms of electricity generation, are highly water-intensive and vulnerable to water shortages. In countries like Kenya, where drought conditions have been severe, water-dependent energy sources have faced shutdowns, impacting the electricity supply for the population.
The lack of access to electricity further compounds the water scarcity issue. Electricity is crucial for water pumping and distribution systems, and without it, accessing water becomes even more challenging. This interdependence between water and electricity highlights the need for sustainable water management practices and the development of climate adaptation strategies to ensure water security and mitigate the impacts of water shortages on energy production and access.
Overall, water scarcity is a pressing issue that threatens the health and well-being of millions worldwide. It is essential to address this issue through sustainable water management, climate adaptation measures, and the development of water-efficient technologies to ensure access to this essential resource and mitigate the potential impacts on energy production and other vital sectors.
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Food shortages
The transportation, refrigeration, and even the growing of food are all reliant on electricity. Small farmers may be able to feed small numbers of people, and some may be able to adapt and grow their own food, but a large number of people would starve. This would be exacerbated by the lack of access to water, as pumps bringing water to homes are dependent on electricity.
In addition, the lack of electricity would cause issues with sanitation, which would lead to diseases spreading at an exponential rate. This would be further worsened by the fact that modern medicine is entirely dependent on electricity. Hospitals would lose the majority of their effectiveness without the machines they rely on, and pharmaceutical companies would be unable to produce the wide array of prescription drugs that keep people alive.
The above issues would be further exacerbated by the breakdown of law and order. Law enforcement would be overwhelmed, and the chaos would cause people to turn to crime. Going outside would become a dangerous endeavour, with people having to look over their shoulders to avoid being killed.
Therefore, it is clear that food shortages would be a major issue if there was no electricity, and many people would die as a result. However, it is worth noting that some people would be able to survive by finding alternative sources of food and water and stockpiling medical supplies.
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Civil unrest
A world without electricity is a world of chaos and civil unrest. Within days of the electricity going out, society would descend into disorder. Looting and armed gangs would become commonplace. Law enforcement would be overwhelmed, and the lack of electricity would make communication and teamwork—essential to effective policing—extremely difficult. Crime would skyrocket, and law-abiding citizens would be forced to turn to criminality.
The loss of electricity would also mean a loss of access to water, as pumps bringing water to houses and apartments are dependent on electricity. This would disproportionately affect those in high-rise buildings, as water availability worsens the higher the floor. The lack of water would also impact sanitation, leading to an exponential spread of diseases.
Food supplies would also be affected, as supermarkets would be looted and may never be restocked. Small farmers would be able to feed a limited number of people, but an alarming number would still starve. Those in areas with extreme climates, such as Arizona in the summer or Minnesota in the winter, would be at risk of dying from heat stroke or freezing to death without indoor heating and cooling.
The healthcare system would also be severely impacted, with hospitals losing much of their effectiveness without electricity-dependent machines. Pharmaceutical companies would be unable to produce the prescription drugs that keep people alive.
With so many essential systems failing, civil unrest would be inevitable. People would be desperate for access to basic necessities like water, food, and healthcare, and the lack of law enforcement would lead to a breakdown of social order. It is a dire situation that underscores the critical importance of electricity in our modern world.
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Frequently asked questions
It is estimated that 90% of the population would die without electricity. This is due to a combination of factors, including the loss of access to modern medicine, sanitation, and fresh water, as well as social disruption and a collapse in law and order.
In the immediate term, a loss of electricity would result in a cessation of water flow to apartments and houses, particularly in high-rise buildings. Lighting, heating, ventilation, and daily appliances such as refrigerators would also be affected. This would impact hygiene, waste management, and the ability to treat surgeries and respirator patients.
In the long term, a loss of electricity could lead to a collapse in society. Food distribution networks would be disrupted, leading to widespread starvation. Diseases would spread due to a lack of sanitation and modern medicine, and law enforcement would be overwhelmed by looters and armed gangs.
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