African policymakers are kicking off a historic climate summit in Kenya on Monday aimed at making the continent an emerging renewable energy powerhouse and calling for international financial assistance to unlock its potential.
This first African Climate Summit kicks off the busiest four months of the year for international climate negotiations, culminating in a battle to end fossil fuels at COP28 in Dubai from late November to early December.
For three days, leaders and officials from Africa and elsewhere, including UN chief António Guterres, will be welcomed to the Kenyan capital by President William Ruto. He hopes that this summit will allow the continent to find a common language on development and climate in order to “propose African solutions” at COP28.
An African position on the subject would “save lives and the planet from disaster”, he said on Monday.
“We aspire to define a new growth agenda that allows shared prosperity and sustainable development,” he continued on X (ex-Twitter), calling on the international community to free up funds for the continent and to reduce the debt burden on African countries.
Africa, home to 1.2 billion people in 54 countries, is politically and economically diverse and home to some of the most vulnerable populations to climate change.
A success in Nairobi around a shared vision on Africa’s green development would give impetus to several key international meetings ahead of COP28, including the G20 summit in India in September and the United Nations General Assembly, then in October the annual meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Marrakech.
According to Joseph Nganga, appointed by William Ruto to chair the summit, the conference should demonstrate that “Africa is not just a victim but a dynamic continent with solutions for the world”.
“We have the power to respond to this crisis (…) Africa represents an opportunity for the world if we work together for mutual benefit,” said Mr. Nganga of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP). ) which promotes renewable energy in developing countries.
Security has been tightened in Nairobi and roads closed around the summit venue. According to the government, 30,000 people have registered for the event.
Civil society groups are expected to demonstrate near the site on Monday to denounce a “deeply compromised agenda” focusing on the interests of rich countries.
To limit global warming to 1.5°C compared to the pre-industrial era envisaged by the Paris agreement, investment must reach 2,000 billion dollars per year in these countries in the space of a decade, has calculated the IMF.
A draft “Nairobi Declaration” seen by AFP, but still under negotiation, underlines Africa’s “unique potential to be an essential part of the solution”.
The document cites the region’s vast renewable energy potential, its young workforce and its natural assets, including 40% of the world’s reserves of cobalt, manganese and platinum, essential for batteries and hydrogen.
But the challenges are overwhelming for a continent where some 500 million people lack access to electricity. And African leaders keep pointing out the huge financial hurdles.
Africa, which is home to 60% of the world’s best solar energy potential, however, only has an installed capacity similar to Belgium, the Kenyan president and the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) recently pointed out. ).
In question, in particular: only 3% of the world’s investments in the energy transition arrive in Africa, they declared.
According to Charra Tesfaye Terfassa of the E3G think tank, the summit should strike a balance between optimism and a rigorous assessment of the challenges to “chart a new path so that Africa is a key part of the global conversation and benefits from the opportunities of the transition. “.
09/04/2023 11:32:16 – Nairobi (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
