Africa Can Be Renewable Energy Superpower, UN Secretary General

• Antonio Guterres praised Africa's contribution to Climate Change mitigation and called for a change in narrative
• He lauded Ethiopia, Kenya and countries in the Congo River basin for playing a vital role in reducing emissions and transitioning to climate change
• He challenged donor countries to honour their pledge to finance Africa's needs in Climate Change mitigation, saying the continent only contributed to 3% of global emissions

Nairobi - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has lauded Africa and described it as a potential superpower in renewable energy.

Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi

Guterres, who travelled to Nairobi for the inaugural Africa Climate Summit, said that it was time for bringing together African countries and developed countries, financial institutions and technology companies to create a real African Renewable Energy Alliance.

In a speech delivered to the summit, Guterres reiterated that there needs to be an all-inclusive plan to oversee a well-managed energy transition.

"We need a plan that leaves no one behind that is why I have been and continue to call on all parties to unite around a plan of action that is fully inclusive. It should be a plan of action that fast-tracks a just, responsible, orderly and well-managed energy transition, focuses on people's lives and livelihoods, and finally fix climate finance," said the Secretary General.

Africa carbon emissions 2023

He recognised that Africa's contribution to global emissions was so low, yet it was suffering serious effects that were degrading to human dignity.

"Africa contributes only 3% of global emissions yet we all know it suffers some of the worst consequences. Droughts, floods and failed harvests have exposed a fifth of Africa's population to hunger.

"The effects have tripled the number of people displaced in the last three years and dragging down Africa's GDP growth by 5% each year," Guterres explained.

Climate change in Africa

The UN boss also pointed out that Africa's efforts in climate change mitigation have been largely overlooked and called for a change of narrative.

He was categorical that African countries are actively implementing initiatives significantly contributing to the transition to clean energy.

"There is another narrative that has unfortunately been overlooked and in a big way undermined and underestimated that needs to get out there. The narrative is that Africa is also a beacon of hope filled with potential and the global example of what pro-climate and nature positive development, should and must look like," the UN boss lauded the continent.

Guterres specifically mentioned Ethiopia and Kenya among African countries that were implementing policies geared towards reducing global emissions.

"Ethiopia's green legacy initiative is enhancing food security and stimulating green jobs across the Horn of Africa. The countries of the Congo Basin are protecting the vital rain forests and helping protect the world.

"Kenya is closing on its goal of 100% clean energy by 2030 and the number of Sub-Saharan countries in Africa with installed solar powers has grown six times in the last five years,. The continent is rich in resources that can enable the world transition to a zero carbon and high growth future," he continued.

However, he pointed out that there were some realities that the continent needed to urgently address, including enhancing access to electricity and clean cooking fuel.

According to Guterres, half of Africa's population was yet to access electricity and over one billion people were not using clean cooking energy.

"These needs needs must be met and need to be addressed with green energy. To achieve this we need finance, finance and finance. Finance must be made available, accessible and affordable," he expounded.

According to the African Development Bank (ADB), Africa requires US dollars 250 billion annually to meet climate finance needs but only receives 12% of this amount. 2% of the 12% achieved is used in adaptation.

Guterres termed this as a big missed opportunity, explaining that money spent on mitigating climate change was yielding four times more the expenditure.

"The World Bank indicated that every dollar used on climate adaptation brings an average of four dollars and benefits. It makes sense why Africa needs to get a fair share of global climate finance. That's why I am calling on donor countries to close out the US dollars 100 billion pledge made over a decade ago and replenish financing of Africa," explained Guterres.

He challenged donor countries to double adaptation financing by 2025 and involved parties to transform the global goal adaptation from theory and text to real action and tangible results.

The UN boss was also of the view that the current finance architecture for climate change needed an urgent surgery to meet emerging needs, adding that it was created for past eras.