The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has steered up countries all over the world to step up their efforts, on the transition from hydrocarbons to clean energy.
This has been exemplified by the rhetoric in Europe and around the world to pivot away from Russian hydrocarbons and the need for energy security.
Vera Songwe, executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission of Africa; Damilola Ogunbiyi, the UN secretary-general’s special representative for Sustainable Energy for All; and Amani Abou-Zeid, commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union Commission, issued a joint statement on Africa’s energy transition. Which hammered on the fact that while Africa’s energy transition charge must be steady, it cannot be at the same pace as the rest of the world, because of geographical nuances etc.
The statement read “The global drive for a green transition and net-zero emissions present African countries with risks and enormous opportunities. At the same time, Africa’s energy access and transition must be compelling and must be defined and owned by Africa”.
“It must reflect Africa’s very low contribution to global emissions and comply with the Paris Agreement that recognizes the need for the emissions of developing countries to take longer to peak, while developed countries need to do more and do so urgently.”
Africa needs to be resilient in the course for energy transition, and the continents approach must be structured around Africa not a borrowed model. They also added:
According to the UN Environmental program, Africa is responsible for only 4 percent of global carbon emissions. And of the seven countries in the world that emit two-thirds of total greenhouse gas emissions, none are African.
In conclusion, Africa can still have a seamless transition to clean energy, with the right leadership and a model fit for Africa, and still keep its contribution to climatic conditions at bay.
