Tripling Africa’s Energy Capacity and Boosting Food Systems: A New Pathway to Action

Attribution:Sungrow EMEA. Source: Unsplash.com

Over the past two months, two critical global events took place namely the 28th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) which took place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 30 November to 12 December, 2023, and the 16th Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) which took place in Berlin, Germany on 17-20 January, 2024. I was fortunate to have participated in both, representing the East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA).

At COP28, I leveraged mostly on the parliamentary events especially those held at the Parliamentary Pavilion to make the point that parliaments have a key role to play in driving climate action and further emphasized the need for the global north to be faithful to their financial commitments to the global south. 

Hon. Uwumukiza

During the GFFA (an important event which intersects with the key focuses of Africa as enunciated by the Nairobi Declaration of 2023 and the core demands of the African Group of Negotiators at COP28), I emphasized the need for responsible investment in agriculture and food systems in the East African Community. This I saw as being very critical in addressing the ever-present issues of food insecurity. There is of course no way we can responsibly scale up investments in food systems and agriculture without taking into account the impacts of climate change, and working judiciously to tackle it from the bottom to the top. 

These two events and their focus/resolutions are at the heart of some of the key needs of Africa — food security, addressing energy poverty using renewables. 

At COP28, those key commitments to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030 while working hard to phase out fossil fuels in a just, equitable, and orderly manner were made. This should be good news to developing countries especially those in sub-Saharan Africa battling with chronic energy poverty. The commitment to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030 therefore offers a chance to provide electricity for the over 600 million Africans without access to power. Power, as we know is key in driving development. 

It is also important to flag that the UAE Consensus also made provisions for food systems. This is evident in the signing of the COP28 Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action. The  Africa Development Bank (AfDB) would further go ahead to launch the first call for climate adaptation proposals for its Climate Action Window. The launch signaled the initiative’s commitment to deliver climate-resilient agricultural technologies and insurance for 20 million farmers, rehabilitate one million hectares of degraded lands, provide water, sanitation, and health services to 18 million people, and provide renewable energy for nearly 10 million.

These are indeed encouraging signs that speak to the core issues that Africa faces. In a way, these commitments signpost a pathway for Africa to leverage on climate action to drive development. 

Yet one must be wary of the fact that there have been no shortages of commitments during COPs and other global events. The major problem has always been that of keeping to these commitments– especially the commitments of developed countries to support developing countries. A good example of this is how long it has taken developed countries to meet the $100bn annual commitment to developing countries to tackle climate change. 

To be able to scale up investments in the renewables and improved food systems sectors, a lot of money is needed by African countries. If reports by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is to be believed, sub-Saharan Africa has a huge renewable energy potential and thus can be the leader is this area with appropriate funding and the requisite technology. Thus even though we have the requisite raw materials and natural resources to lead in these areas, we still need the funding and the appropriate technologies to transform potentials to concrete solutions.

According to a renowned Professor of Climate Change and Development, Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, “Developing countries and emerging markets face myriad problems such as high initial costs of finance for the acquisition and installation of renewable energy technologies. Therefore, they require extensive international support, which is essential for amplifying investments in renewable energy, a key solution to addressing the challenges faced by developing nations in the Global South.”

Despite these needs and the abundance of the raw materials, in 2022, Africa received only 2% of global investments in renewable energy. This underscores complete bad faith by developed countries— including investors from these countries. 

This therefore should motivate African countries to begin to look for other ways of getting the necessary funding in order to be able to negotiate from a position of strength and of course show our commitment to a world anchored on green growth.

My solution to this is that African MPs must first begin to interrogate their countries’ Appropriation Acts to ensure that key provisions are made in the annual budgets to finance investments in renewables and climate-smart agriculture. This is a critical first step which will show the continent’s commitment and in turn place pressure on developed countries to walk their talks.  Similarly, African MPs must also review legal frameworks and policies to ensure that the renewables and food systems sectors are investment-friendly. This can come in the form of approving tax holidays and where necessary, subsidies and soft loans. These are simple, yet important steps that we must take for the future of our continent.

Aware of the urgent need for East African countries to leverage on the abundant renewable energy resources in the region, I had on 4 June 2022, moved a motion calling on the Council of Ministers to recommend to Partner States to enhance utilization and access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable renewable energy resources within the region. That motion was in line with the East Africa Community Vision 2050, and Articles 101 of the Treaty. Following the motion, EALA had resolved that the Council of Ministers and Partner States must be encouraged to promote the utilization of the renewable energy resources within the region; enhance access to renewable energy by making it affordable; facilitate Public and Private Sector Partnerships in driving up investments in renewable energy; enhance the economic empowerment of women by getting them involved in renewable energy income generating projects; etc. We must ensure that more of this is done across the continent, and most importantly followed up with proper oversight to ensure implementation by the Executive.

One thing is clear, there is no saviour coming from the global north to start this revolution for Africa. History has made that very clear. African countries must therefore take decisive actions by first appropriating funds to address these issues, and then follow up with clear policies and legislations on how to attain this objective. 

As a member of the East Africa Legislative Assembly, I intend to continue to call for this within the sub-region, while hoping that African MPs across the continent will take this up and run with it. This is a duty we owe to our great continent.