Hopes rise for green economy boom at Africa Climate Summit | Renewable energy

The first signs of takeoff in the green economy of Africa were the subject of a hope that a transformation of the continent’s fortune could be in progress, driven by solar energy and an increase in investment with low carbon content.

African leaders meet this week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the Africa Climate Summit, forerunner of the UN Global COP30 in November. They will call an increase in the support of countries rich for the green resurgence of Africa, without which they will warn that it could be fragile and spread unevenly.

Richard Muyungi, the climate envoy and advisor to the president of Tanzania, “said:” Africa is ready to be part of [the global fight to stave off climate breakdown] Provided that we are supported by finance, technology and capacity building.

“There has been an increase in investments in certain areas, but Africa still needs a lot of funding to be part of the global solution and take up the challenges we face.”

Green Energy is booming in Africa, 20 countries beating records for imports of solar panels during the 12 months until June. According to the Thinktank EMPER, imports of photovoltaic equipment from China increased by 60% in the past year, from 9 MW in 2024 to 15 MW of capacity, with a tripling imports into countries outside of South Africa.

Although the increase is impressive, it comes from a low base. Africa, which has the greatest solar energy potential, has been far behind other countries in the facilities. Last year, only 4% of the world solar generation was in Africa and, in 2023, the International Energy Agency reported that Belgium had as many solar panels as the entire continent.

“There is a light glow [in the increased investment] But this is still quite thin compared to other continents in the world of world, “said Muyungi.

The panels imported from last year would add approximately 5% to the current electricity production capacity in 16 countries, according to EMBER, but the need remains large. About 600 million people in Africa do not have access to electricity and approximately one billion have only firewood or dirty fuels for the kitchen. Women and girls are the most affected.

Melaku Yirga, the regional director of Africa Mercy Corps, a humanitarian organization, said: “Renewable energies are not only the greatest opportunities in Africa, it is also an urgent necessity. Renewable power allows everything, from the irrigation and storage of food to precautionary systems, health care and livelihoods. ”

Although the recent increases in renewable energy investment have been welcome, Yirga said the public sector and abroad are still vital.

“Africa does not lack ambition in renewable energies, but without stronger international finance and good incentives, the private sector will remain on the sidelines and the adaptation objectives will be not satisfied,” he said.

“Financing of the private sector must be welcomed by public commitments, and funding must also be long -term and reliable – short subsidies rarely have a total impact, because a significant commitment with governments and communities takes time and requires an important initial investment.”

Reductions of aid abroad of rich countries cause dismay among African governments, many of which are destroyed by record charges of debt, exacerbated by the consequences of the cocoan-19 pandemic and recent interest rate increases.

Macky Sall, the former president of Senegal, said: “The drop in official development aid fundamentally changes climate calculation. Where does that leave Africa, if we can no longer count on the promises of our partners?

“The costs of the climate crisis fell most strongly on Africa. We are not the cause. We are not only the biggest bill – we also see the checks to stem the damage canceled. ”

Companies in the private sector will put money in renewable energies, but few will help Africa adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis, which are already felt in the form of droughts, floods and crop failures. Investment to strengthen resilience – such as water storage systems, the best infrastructure and new agricultural techniques – is lacking.

A report published at the summit on Monday showed that if Africa needed at least $ 70 billion a year to adapt to the effects of the climate crisis, and perhaps much more, only $ 15 billion was provided for adaptation funding to the continent in 2023.

Without an urgent action to fill this vast financing gap, the future costs of Africa from the climatic impacts will make a ball, annihilating a fifth of the GDP by 2050.

Patrick Verkooijen, director general of the Global Center on adaptation Thinktank, says that rich countries must increase their funding for adaptation in Africa, which is responsible for only 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions while bringing the weight of climate break.

“Europe [and other countries] Will be pulled in the foot if they finance the ODA, “he said.” African leaders will see him like a stab on the back. “”

While Africa is late in climate adaptation, its wealth is more and more sought after by China and the rest of the rich world.

Africa has some of the largest deposits of “critical minerals” – elements essential to the construction of renewable energy components. Cobalt, lithium, copper, nickel, rare earths and other minerals are abundant in parts of Africa, which has stimulated a world rush for resources.

Human rights violations have climbed in certain mining areas, with children’s work and the exploitation of adult workers, especially women, in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo. The subressourced public sector of Africa has difficulty containing damage and ensuring that resource extraction is carried out in a responsible manner, without causing an environmental devastation and in a way that benefits local populations.

Africa also abounds in gas, with fossil fuel reserves which have barely been operated in certain countries. Muyungi insisted that they had to be authorized to exploit these resources, despite the impact on the climate crisis. “We don’t plan to prevent us from using gas-we need it for our development,” he said.

For the rich countries to attack the climate crisis, the help of Africa will be essential. If the global governments of the North do not meet the needs of the continent, they will feel the impact. About 60% of the African population is under 25 years of age, a “youth foot” that could stimulate development or, if it is poorly manipulated, will be felt in the world.

ABAY YIMERE, a scholar of the Climate Policy Lab from TUFTS University in the United States, said: “If the climate crisis is not addressed in Africa, it will be a problem for migration. If we do not provide them with a job and we adapt to climate change, the impact will be enormous and uncontrollable. The Northern worldwide should examine this about their own national perspectives and see their interest.