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This week, Policy Dispatch takes a look into Africa’s energy transition, the main hurdles that the continent’s 54 nations are facing, and its untapped renewable potential with Saliem Fakir, Executive Director at the African Climate Foundation
As the United Nations’ COP 27 in Egypt approaches, Africa’s energy and climate transition is in the spotlight.
The African continent has an opportunity to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. Its main hurdle, however, is the need for cheap resources and access to financing to achieve its decarbonisation, and the need to incentivise participation from local companies and investors in its energy markets.
The untapped potential is vast: solar and wind investments aren’t happening at the scale needed, but its onshore wind power in Africa could match the region’s electricity demand 250 times over. Moreover, COP27 is expected to bring new commitments from African nations to phase out coal and just transition partnerships with developed countries.
We are discussing these topics with Saliem Fakir, Executive Director of the African Climate Foundation. Prior to establishing the ACF, Saliem served as the Head of the Policy & Futures Unit of WWF South Africa for 11 years. Saliem has worked as a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Public Administration and Planning and an Associate Director for the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy at Stellenbosch University.
Enjoy the show!
If you have any thoughts or questions about anything that has been discussed in this week’s episode, you can reach us at our Twitter accounts:
Saliem Fakir + AfricaEuropeFdn
Sam Morgan
Anna Gumbau
@Policy Dispatch
FORESIGHT Climate & Energy
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Art director: Trine Natskår.
Show notes:
FORESIGHT Policy Section
In this first episode of Policy Dispatch, we take a deep dive into buildings and the need to accelerate their decarbonisation, with Member of the European Parliament Ciarán Cuffe
Finance for development initiatives in emerging markets is intrinsically tied to climate change—from new roads and energy infrastructure to transportation and new buildings. Yet despite the billions of dollars in overseas development assistance funding, the promised $100 billion of new and additional climate finance by 2020 has failed to materialise
South Africa’s energy transition has faltered in recent years with the ripples of political turmoil spreading to its regulatory frameworks and state-owned utility, hampering renewable energy auction rounds and transmission system development in the process. But a proposed change in the law may provide a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel for renewable energy developers
Technology start-ups in Africa are making use of the roll-out of mobile phone networks to bring digital innovation to remote areas through pay-as-you-go models for services that can increase prosperity. For the first time, smallholders can afford solar panels for electricity while others can sign on to thriving energy-as-a-service business models that do not require an initial capital outlay
Direct tariffs should be promoted and financed by large-scale donors to accelerate the adoption of renewables in developing countries, argue experts from Dalberg, a global advisory firm. This would encourage the release of extra capital by guaranteeing a market and an energy price for clean energy sources
COVID-19 may have reduced emissions in the short-term, but much more needs to happen to slash fossil fuel use to meet climate targets
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