Pre- Ninth IEA conference: Stakeholders explored the role of accelerated policy action in addressing energy efficiency

From May 21-22, 2024, Kenya will host the IEA’s 9th Global Conference, marking the first time the conference takes place in Africa. This event focuses on expediting policy action on energy efficiency, prioritizing practical solutions for efficiency, accessibility, and affordability.

Preceding the conference, the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) gathered stakeholders from Kenya’s energy sector to discuss current challenges and opportunities. The aim was to formulate recommendations for addressing these issues.

Kenya has implemented the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy (NEECS) to guide its energy efficiency goals, though stakeholders noted a gap in awareness, particularly at the grassroots level.

Thomas Opande from WWF emphasized in his keynote speech that despite ongoing discussions about energy access, many African countries still face low electricity connection rates, hindering energy efficiency. He stressed the necessity of creating a platform for generating ideas and recommendations for efficient energy use.

Philip Kilonzo, head of Policy, Advocacy, and Communication at PACJA, highlighted energy efficiency as a cross-cutting issue, urging participants to assess how different economic and service sectors contribute to inefficient energy use. He also pointed out the contradiction of countries importing high-consuming energy while advocating for efficiency, labeling it as energy injustice.

One workshop objective was to develop comprehensive strategies and actionable recommendations for promoting a just transition through energy efficiency in Africa. Participants stressed the importance of greater community involvement in shaping energy-related policies to ensure successful implementation. They recommended active engagement of communities in policy formulation and collaboration with all stakeholders in the energy sector to strengthen unified voices.

The upcoming conference serves as a crucial moment to bolster progress and drive momentum toward the global goal of doubling energy efficiency by 2030, a key outcome of COP28. Energy efficiency is crucial for addressing climate change, ensuring energy affordability, security, and access. The Global Conference aims to increase ambition on efficiency to enhance the lives and livelihoods of people worldwide.