Emission reduction scenarios to meet climate change mitigation policy goals rarely explore the differential impact of alternative pathways on access to energy for different economic strata of society across countries. Here we show that even under optimistic socioeconomic growth scenarios, inequalities in use of modern energy in homes could persist. We find that, although access improves in high growth scenarios, over 10% of populations in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia could lack access to energy services for thermal comfort, food preparation and conservation, and cleaning in 2050. Ambitious climate mitigation scenarios do not substantially alter household access to energy services in the Global South, and only affect gas consumption in high-income regions. Our work suggests that efforts to meet climate mitigation policy goals are not at odds with progress towards universal access to modern energy services in the Global South, however, directed policy will be needed to meet access goals.

满足气候变化减缓政策目标的减排情景很少探讨替代途径对各国不同社会经济阶层获取能源的不同影响。在这里，我们表明，即使在乐观的社会经济增长情景下，家庭现代能源使用的不平等也可能持续存在。我们发现，尽管在高增长情景下获得改善，但到 2050 年，撒哈拉以南非洲和南亚超过 10% 的人口可能无法获得用于热舒适、食物准备和保存以及清洁的能源服务。雄心勃勃的气候缓解情景确实不会显着改变全球南方家庭获得能源服务的机会，只会影响高收入地区的天然气消费。