Urgency for Renewable Energy Investments

As we conclude the Launch and Strategy Workshop of the Six30 campaign, we are reminded of the stark reality that over 630 million people in our region still live without electricity while almost a billion cook and heat their homes with firewood, charcoal, and other inefficient and hazardous biomass-based fuels.

These are not just statistics; they represent countless unfulfilled dreams and missed opportunities. The absence of modern energy services perpetuates poverty, limits economic opportunities, enhances vulnerabilities to climate extremes and jeopardises sustainable development.

While multiple factors account for the situation, most are linked to or exacerbated by a lack of substantial and adequate financing, especially for renewable energy, which has the strong potential to provide reliable and affordable electricity to millions. Policies are also out of tune. Only 25 African countries have clear strategies for energy access.

The lack of substantial and adequate financing for energy access in the region has multiple developmental and climate implications. The number of people without electricity is rising not declining. At least 4% more people in the region lived without electricity in 2021 than in 2019. The increase in energy poverty is linked to extreme poverty, which is set to quadruple in some areas (IEA, 2022). Finally, energy poverty and its impacts exacerbate the region’s high vulnerability to the effects of climate change.

As the world transitions towards cleaner and more sustainable ways of fueling the production and distribution of goods and services, investing in Africa’s renewable energy sector is crucial to leveraging its untapped potential, providing energy access to millions and contributing to global sustainability efforts.

We, therefore: Read More Six-30 Campaign Launch Position Statement