Environment
Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank, says pragmatism not ideology should drive a just energy transition in Africa despite calls for reduction of carbon emissions
By Maureen Chigbo reporting from Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
DESPITE growing concern about carbon emissions, just energy transition resonated at the margins of the ongoing 2023 annual meetings of the African Development Bank, AfDB, at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, as African countries are advised to be pragmatic in moving from fossil fuel to renewable energy.
Even though carbon emissions are not helping the world and eradicating it is not negotiable as Paris Agreement made clear, Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank, has also advised the world leaders not to “fast-track the next half of the century to today”. This is especially so for developing countries whose major revenue is derived from the exploitation and exploration of fossil fuels without which they will not have the funds needed for economic growth and development.
This implies that it will take African countries like Nigeria, Angola, and others who are discovering crude oil and natural gas a long time to switch to renewable energy. Hence, Adesina said that “pragmatism” should drive the energy transition and not “ideology”. Energy transition takes time in terms of developing the technology and generating finance to move from where African countries are right now to where they want to be, he said, adding: “Africa needs time”.
According to him, the experience of what has happened with the Russia and Ukraine war which has seen some European countries resorting to coal as a source of energy, has shown that what is good for the geese is also good for the gander. Hence, African countries should be allowed to use their natural gas to catalyse gas to power developments that will provide electricity for about 600 million people who are currently without electricity and also cooking gas which some countries now consider as a luxury whereas it is not for Africans.
“Just energy transition must be fair and just. Women in Africa don’t deserve to die just to cook”, Adesina said, adding that about 300,000 women and their children were adversely affected by cooking with firewood.
He also said that natural gas was needed to produce fertilizer to raise the productivity of agriculture.
“We all have a collective responsibility to reduce emissions. Developed countries have greater responsibility. If Africa uses three times its current gas resources it will contribute 0.67 percent to emissions. When you go on a cruise ship in the energy transition, you play tennis but the ship is stable. If you go on a canoe, where you row, and try same, you are going to sink,” he said, adding that energy transition takes time and technology and African countries should not be pushed to do what is not “realistic” as adequate financing is needed for the transition.
In doing the energy transition, African Development Bank is supporting some countries in Africa including Nigeria and Senegal with some gas projects that are fundamental for growth and development in the continent. “We should not compromise African economic growth and development because of ideology. 87 percent of all our financing goes to renewable energy. You cannot fix energy if there is no energy grid and you have to have a mixed energy grid in Africa.”
Adesina observed that developed nations are not redeeming the $100 billion-a-year climate finance pledge they made to developing countries, adding: “Africa is in a very dire situation and being short-changed in climate finance. A sense of urgency is needed to tackle it. Africa is choking. It needs space to breathe,” he said.
“Your role as the media is very important to help carry the news – the news of efforts being made, challenges being faced, and the fierce urgency of now in getting much-needed climate finance to Africa,” he said.
Realnews reports that the AfDB annual meetings will allow its board of governors, African leaders, and development partners to explore practical ways of “mobilizing private sector financing for climate and green growth in Africa,” in line with the theme of this year’s meetings which is “Mobilizing Private Sector Financing for Climate and Green Growth in Africa”.
Realnews reports that the Emissions Gap Report 2022 by the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, stated that the world must cut emissions by 45 percent to avoid global catastrophe. Solutions to transform societies exist, but the time for collective, multilateral action is now, it said.
According to UNEP, “As growing climate change impacts are experienced across the globe, the message that greenhouse gas emissions must fall is unambiguous. Yet the Emissions Gap Report (EGR) 2022: The Closing Window – Climate crisis calls for rapid transformation of societies finds that the international community is falling far short of the Paris goals, with no credible pathway to 1.5°C in place. Only an urgent system-wide transformation can avoid climate disaster.”
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Tags: AfDB Akinwumi Adesina Maureen Chigbo
