Africa's Climate Week (ACW) and Climate Summit, hosted by the Government of Kenya in the first week of September, is focused on four critical pillars: energy systems and industry, cities, urban and rural settlements, infrastructure and transport, land, ocean, food and water, societies, health, livelihoods, and economies.
The importance of this event, supported by a consortium of influential organizations including the UN, World Bank, African Development Bank, African Union, and others, could not be overstated.
As discussions unfolded on climate solutions leading up to COP28, this annual event brought together leaders from governments, businesses, international organizations, and civil society to tackle the twin challenges of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the escalating consequences of the climate crisis.
ACW 2023 is organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Bank, with the support of regional partners: African Union (AU), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB). The collaboration demonstrated the importance of global stakeholders in Africa's fight against climate change.
One of the most prominent international organizations to support the continent's fight and the transition to renewables, which constitutes a big part of the efforts, is IRENA - the International Renewable Energy Agency, an intergovernmental organization mandated to facilitate cooperation, advance knowledge, and promote the adoption and sustainable use of renewable energy. Ahead of ACW and the Climate Summit, I had the pleasure of interviewing Francesco La Camera, IRENA's Director-General.
ACW 2023 was orchestrated by a collaborative effort involving the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Bank, in conjunction with regional partners such as the African Union (AU), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the African Development Bank (AfDB). This synergy vividly demonstrated the critical role of global stakeholders in Africa's battle against climate change.
Formed 11 years ago, IRENA supports countries worldwide in their transition to a sustainable energy future, providing vital knowledge and support while working through a regional focus aimed at advancing global renewable energy goals.
"We have the task of promoting the use of renewable energy in the world," said La Camera.
"Initially, our activity was concentrated on knowledge - decreasing costs, usage statistics showing how the share of energy was changing in favor of renewables, showing the impact on the global workforce, etc.”
But since its formation, and with global awareness of climate change and the need for action on a constant rise, IRENA has gradually added various activities, actions, and projects to drive the transition to renewables.
"After the 2015 Paris Agreement, we started building action scenarios for staying on the pathway to limit global temperature rise. Part of these scenarios is supporting countries in building their own renewable markets and assessing renewable energy potential, which applies specifically to Africa,” said La Camera.
The need for building renewable energy markets is global, with every continent experiencing some movement towards a greener sector. From that perspective, Africa's needs and actions are specific. The continent is the most minor contributor to global emissions (2%-3%), yet the most vulnerable to climate change.
"Africa and Southeast Asia are experiencing rapid population growth, leading to a surge in energy demand. It is essential that this increasing need for energy is met through renewable sources," La Camera asserted.
"Africa's role is very important, and it has extraordinary potential. But unfortunately, the continent relies mainly on fossil fuels, which constitute 40% of their exports.”
As the rest of the world shifts toward clean energy, global demand for fossil fuels will fall, increasing the risk of stranded assets.
"For immediate response, off-grid is the best solution.”
In the past decade, off-grid solutions have become prominent across the continent, providing a designated answer to the infrastructure issues of last-mile, rural areas.
"Africa is a global leader if we consider the number of users - 150 million," said La Camera when we discussed the rapid market growth of off-grid solar electricity.
Solar home systems and mini-grids have become a go-to solution for African governments, providing an affordable, scalable solution for the needs of hundreds of millions of people across the continent. The continent's massive solar potential can also support the green hydrogen production that La Camera sees as a reliable way to diversify global energy markets while growing Africa's economy.
"Infrastructure is the first barrier. If you have the infrastructure, you have more jobs, higher demand, and a larger fiscal space to accelerate the energy transition," La Camera explained.
"Multi-financial institutions should prioritize infrastructure, the legal environment, and increasing a capable workforce. We are preparing to announce a new initiative at the Africa Climate Summit, bringing together African countries willing to move faster on the energy transition, to collect their specific needs and build an intervention plan.”
IRENA's contribution to the global energy transition, particularly in Africa, is monumental and indisputable. It is left to local governments and officials, private companies operating in the region, and global development entities to take over the infrastructure challenge and use the continent's massive resources for the best.
Through international collaboration, Africa could ascend to global leadership in renewables, and electrifying the hundreds of millions in need through off-grid solar solutions forms a crucial building block of this transformative journey.