By Dr. David Mazi Matsanga in Africa
I write from far away because the Temperatures are rising in Egypt. As the world convenes in Egypt for COP27, it will be equivocal to say that Africa no longer deserves to play the second fiddle in the Global Climatic Change initiatives.
The continent has come of age and deserves an equal space at the table, our time of being on the menu is long over. China the biggest polluter and emitter of Green House-gases is absent in Egypt COP27.
The West could be one of the biggest contributors of Global Climatic Degradation. I call upon Africa to engage these main polluters to release the 100 billion they promised in Scotland COP26 and Africa is such a quintessential key player.
In fact, if fairness was the only goal, the impetus to act would lie solely with developed economies. But make no mistake, the big emitters absolutely must step up their domestic climate action quickly. That’s indisputable.
However, building the new climate economy is also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that every African nation should prioritize and claim a stake in.
This opportunity to show a hand of solidarity is the sole reason why, despite historically negligible carbon emissions, despite only accounting for 2% of World coal demand, Africa must speak with one voice.
The lack of concern from some developed countries, the most many African countries are now making serious efforts to transition towards Low-Carbon Technologies, Low-Carbon and Resilient Infrastructure, and Low-Carbon Tax Systems.
As I write, Morocco has built the world’s largest concentrated solar facility to help achieve the country’s goal of 52 % Renewable Energy mix by 2030.
The advanced 6,000-acre Solar Complex, Noor, serves as a clean energy source for around 2 Million Moroccans and provides pivotal job opportunities as the Country transitions away from the fossil fuel industry.
The solar complex is also offering training programs for women for Entrepreneurial and Agricultural activities and is recruiting women in decision-making roles to guide project activities. Such a robust Eco-friendly initiative by an expectedly Africa Country!
South Africa’s Carbon Tax Act, which places specific levies on Greenhouse gases from fuel combustion and Industrial Processes and Emissions, came into effect in June 2019. By 2035, the carbon tax could reduce the country’s emissions by 33% relative to the baseline.
Furthermore, South Africa’s recent renewable energy actions have led to Solar and Wind prices being lower than those of the National Utility or from new coal plants.
Often regarded as the continent’s clean energy trailblazer, much of what has been learned through South Africa’s renewable energy procurement process can influence similar developments across Africa.
East African Countries like Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda have in a similar vehemence set ambitious renewable energy targets by the year 2030.
This common goal underscores the potential for both grid-based and decentralized renewable energy investments to deliver energy access and climate change benefits simultaneously.
If accomplished, this initiative will be a major boost to Global Climatic Change Initiative.
With an abundance of solar, wind, and geothermal resources, African countries already have a comparative advantage in renewables. The falling costs of Green Technologies provide a propitious moment to be on the delivery end of the new energy revolution.
And while it may seem counterintuitive, Africa’s most Oil- and Gas-rich Countries should be leading the energy revolution. There are direct stakeholders who must actively be involved in the Global Initiative.
Africa’s transition to a new climate economy is underway in many places. The question however is, will developed countries create a tail-wind or a head-wind?
How they answer this question will determine whether Africa is positioned to fully capitalize on this opportunity.
While it may not be polite to say so, African countries need money, both to build a cleaner more prosperous future for themselves and to avoid the worst impacts of climate change created largely by the Western Countries.
African leaders cannot do this alone. And nor should they. Whether driven by opportunism or a sense of moral justice, the world’s Developed and Emerging Economies must take action at home and help Africa deliver the investments that will bring the goals of the Paris Agreement within reach.
Dr David Matsanga is the Chairman of Pan African Forum. He is a Political Scientist and International Conflict Resolution Expert.
