Africa Offers Huge New Energy Opportunity

Is 100% Renewable Energy Plan Possible for Africa?

Dipti Bhatnagar and Kwami Kpondzo, September 20, 2021 (Common Dreams via LA Progressive)

“…[The climate crisis] has been more rapid in Africa than the rest of the world…[and] is already having devastating impacts for people, their livelihoods, and ecosystems…[A new report shows that] public finance from the global North, ending tax dodging, and dropping the debt…[would fund and make financially and technically feasible achieving] a 100% renewable energy goal for Africa by the year 2050…while stemming] the climate crisis, supporting employment, gender justice, reducing inequality, and pushing for a just recovery…Africa needs approximately $130 billion a year between now and 2050…

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The one thing that stands in the way of achieving this is lack of political commitment from states on the continent but also from the global North…The level of energy poverty in Africa is unacceptable…Three-quarters of those without access to electricity now live in sub-Saharan Africa, a share that has risen over recent years. The majority of all Africans do not have clean energy sources for cooking. The number of deaths from respiratory infections is enormous and avoidable…

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[Covid-19 increased the numbers of people who could not access electricity and who went into energy poverty. Africa’s vast natural resources have been exploited for the benefits of others through transnational corporations and have left behind the majority of Africa’s peoples…[Africa needs] over 300GW of new renewable energy by 2030…and over 2000GW by 2050. The continent surpasses all other regions in having the most potential for renewable energy…[It can meet the need with] an annual investment requirement of around US$130 billion per year…[That would create] 7 million well-paid jobs in solar, wind, and clean people powered renewable energy…” click here for more

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