Dozens of electric cables connect homes and businesses to privately-owned diesel generators, in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, March 4, 2022. Private generators are ubiquitous in parts of the Middle East, spewing hazardous fumes into homes and business across the country, almost 24 hours a day. As the world looks for renewable energy to tackle climate change, Lebanon, Iraq, Gaza and elsewhere rely on diesel-powered private generators just to keep the lights on. The reason is state failure: In multiple countries, governments can’t maintain a functioning central power network, whether because of war, conflict or mismanagement and corruption. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)