In “This Child Doesn’t Need a Solar Panel” (op-ed, Oct. 22), Bjorn Lomborg, a political scientist by training, presents readers with a false choice that pits investment in climate security against investments in food, water and health security.

Developing countries need affordable electricity to solve their problems. Without irrigation systems, food insecurity in poor countries creates a cycle of famine and poverty for one billion people globally. Without access to clean drinking water, disease and lost labor hours charge a high economic toll on nations that can ill afford it. Solar-powered technologies from Kyocera are a proven and cost-effective way to irrigate cropland and extract clean well water.

Solar power also helps improve education, enhancing political enfranchisement and supporting economic growth. The d.light company makes affordable, battery-connected solar-powered lamps used by 53 million people to light their homes at night so they can read. Solar power scales up and down easily without incurring additional infrastructure or environmental cost.

If Mr. Lomborg is concerned about global health, water and food security, then he should prioritize investments with environmental benefits and low infrastructure costs, like solar. The Pentagon recognizes that climate-change-induced environmental disasters will have a horrifying impact on the issues Mr. Lomborg cites and is investing in solar now.

Nat Kreamer