The international community attending the climate change conference
in Paris has backed the ambitious Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI)
with over $10 billion worth of support.
The African-led plan is to add 10 GW
of additional renewable energy on the continent by 2020 to
accelerate access with a view to reducing energy poverty.
At an event on the sidelines of the COP21, the European
Union, Sweden and G7 jointly pledged the amount – in particular, Germany will
contribute $3.25 billion, France $2.2 billion, Sweden $500 million and Canada
CA$110 million to the initiative, which will provide clean power to millions
across the continent.
“We support Africa’s leadership and commit to working
closely with African partners to bridge the access gap and develop Africa’s
renewable energy potential. In this context we welcome the Africa Renewable
Energy Initiative as a transformative, Africa-owned and led inclusive effort to
accelerate and scale-up the harnessing of the continent’s renewable energy
potential,” said a joint statement from the partners.
A 2015 UNEP report found an approximately 600 million people
have no access to electricity in Africa, with the figure expected to rise to
700 million by 2030 without further action. As a result, many rely on wood or
other biomass to cook and heat their homes, leading to hundreds of thousands of
deaths each year from indoor air pollution.
AREI is to help achieve sustainable development and enhanced
well-being by ensuring universal access to clean and affordable energy.
It will mobilize substantial financial resources from
private investors, development finance institutions and multilateral
development banks by 2020 building on existing work and initiatives.
"Africa is tired of being in the dark. The lack of
electricity has put the brakes on Africa's industrialization,” observed Akinwumi
Ayodeji Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB). “Through the
Africa Renewable Energy Initiative, we can sustain fast economic growth in
Africa and on a low carbon development pathway.”
In its second phase, the Initiative is targeting the
mobilization of Africa's massive renewable resources, such as solar, geothermal
and wind, to generate at least 300 GW by 2030, more than doubling current
capacity.
Initial analysis of almost 6,000 projects targeting
renewable energy and energy efficiency in developing countries has revealed
that the projects could reduce CO2 emissions by about 1.7 gigatons a
year by 2020.
The findings, released at COP21 in Paris by the 1
Gigaton Coalition in its first annual report, entitled Narrowing the
Emissions Gap: Contributions from renewable energy and energy efficiency
activities, are based on projects implemented between 2005 and 2012.
They show
the potential for further emissions reductions if programmes and initiatives
are supported further to replicate successful projects more widely.
“Africa's renewable energy revolution will ensure access to
clean, reliable and efficient energy, while ensuring we do not add to the
greenhouse gas emissions we are gathered here in Paris to reduce,” stated UNEP Executive
Director, Achim Steiner. “The Africa Renewable Energy Initiative aims to do
just that. Such leadership from Africa, and the financial backing from the
international community announced today, provides fresh hope that we can tackle
the twin challenges of sustainable development and climate change."
AREI is endorsed by the African Union and African Heads
of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC),
the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment, and the African
Development Bank, among others.
“We will work hard to
support and see the success the African Renewable Energy Initiative and also
call upon all stakeholders including Member States, financial institutions, the
private and public sectors, civil societies and research institutions, amongst
others, from all parts of the world to join us in our endeavours,”, said Dr.
Elham Ibrahim, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the AU Commission.
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