A necessary shift
The conversation about climate change is central to the African continent. It is well documented that Africa has not contributed as much to global CO2 emissions as other continents, and by no means as much as Europe. According to the UN’s environmental programme, UNEP, Africa has only contributed to around two to three percent of the global CO2-emissions.
In spite of this, global warming impacts countries in Africa disproportionally. This has been documented in reports prepared by a range of different organizations, like the UN, World Metrological Organization, and the World Bank.
Specifically, global warming and a rise in temperature is resulting in threats to health and safety, lack of access to water and food, and challenges for economic development in Africa.
This is one part of the conversation.
On the other side, there is also a real opportunity that Africa can become central to the green transition. There are several reasons for this.
First and foremost, there are a number of minerals, which are essential to green technologies, such as cobalt, nickel, copper and lithium – which Africa is a significant source to.
These are the minerals that are needed in, amongst other, electric vehicles, solar panels and windmills.
“So you have a real opportunity that Africa can contribute to addressing the question of climate change through extraction”, Joseph Kibugu from BHRRC explains.
But, in addition to this, it is also a question of the need for energy that there is in Africa. According to a new report by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, 44,3% of the population in Africa have no access to electricity – we are talking about over 600 million people.
There is therefore a pressing need to increase the energy access on the continent, and there is a real possibility that this can come from renewable energy sources. There are good conditions to develop both solar, wind and geothermal energy in several places on the African continent.
This results in a nexus between need and opportunity in Africa, says Kibugu – there is a need for energy access, and an opportunity that this energy need can be met with renewable energy sources.
Kenya is a great example of exactly this. In Kenya 70% of the electricity comes from renewable energy. Whether we are talking about geothermal power stations, windmills or solar energy.
This is why the new report from the BHRRC focuses on Kenya. The report looks at a number of green energy projects in the country – to investigate what lessons can be learned from Kenya, in relation to ensuring a fast and just transition.