Africa is a continent hard hit by climate change though least emitter. Erratic rains and floods, prolonged droughts, climate related migration and conflict, combined with Covid-19 are exposing nations to further debts.
Like other developing nations, the African continent faces a challenge of the realism of a low carbon transition and right to development hence a key climate justice issue.
How do countries create energy systems that deliver on their country’s energy needs and development plans? At the same time, provide adequate energy services without creating significant inequalities and negative impacts on jobs, workers, and communities while ensuring they do not add to the atmosphere’s emissions.
Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, a globally recognized leading scholar on climate governance and international development with expertise in climate justice, national green growth transition in Africa explain why Africa must push for its climate justice. Click to the link below to listen.
Read why the world must stop the nature crisis now.
Africa is negotiating for space to exploit its natural gas reserves as a transitional fuel but before the war in Ukraine fueled fears of a natural gas emergency in Europe, a landmark deal at COP 26 was aaannounced to end international public financing for fossil fuels that included oil, coal, and natural gas.
James Murombedzi, a senior Climate change policy and governance expert told the continent believes a just energy transition in Africa needs to be shaped around the continents right to develop sustainably. “Otherwise, sub-Saharan Africa will not meet any of its sustainable development goals if it does not resolve its energy crisis,”
Howeever, in order to meet the Paris agreement, is Africa being pressured to abandon its use of fossil fuel energy while developed countries facing energy shortages and rising costs for fuel and electricity, due to Ukraine Russia crisis turn back to more and dirtier fossil fuels? Who is shaping the climate justice narratives. Is Africa doing enough to push their position ahead of COP27?