KEY POINTS
- Africa has vast renewable energy potential but needs swift action.
- Markets alone cannot drive sustainable development or climate targets.
- Investment in Africa’s energy transition lags far behind global levels.
Africa has significant renewable energy potential, but more action is needed from the continent’s leaders and partners to harness clean power for development and growth, a renewable energy expert said Monday.
Africa urged to accelerate renewable energy for growth and resilience
Speaking at the Investment Forum for the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA), Francesco La Camera, director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), urged political leaders to collaborate with the business sector to promote clean energy use and meet global targets.
“The visionary and ambitious Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change aptly captures the strategy African leaders have to harness the continent’s immense renewable potential for development, growth, and resilience,” La Camera said.
He added: “The time for convincing is behind us. The world knows the business case for renewables is strong, and markets are moving in that direction.
“But to deliver on the promise of sustainable development and change the trajectory of climate change by 2030, markets alone cannot achieve it.”
According to a report by Newsday, APRA was launched at the African Climate Summit in September 2023 by Kenya, Ethiopia, Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe to accelerate energy transitions in member countries.
Investment in Africa’s energy transition far below global average
According to IRENA research, 473 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity was added globally in 2023. Renewable energy accounted for 87% of newly installed capacity, while fossil fuels and nuclear made up the remaining 13%. However, energy transition-related investments in sub-Saharan Africa were 40 times lower than the global average per capita.
La Camera said this highlights the shared responsibility to ensure “Africa’s energy transition is not delayed and that together, we can turn ambition into action.”
“We must ensure this forum leads to tangible results that transform the continent’s energy landscape,” he said. “It is crucial that the conclusions we reach here lay the foundation for real progress.”
