![Africa has huge renewable energy potential - it has 60% of the world's best solar resources, but the continent receives less than 3% of global energy investment. Credit: Aimable Twahirwa/IPS](https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2024/02/SOLAR_POWER_PLANT_RWANDA-629x418-629x418.jpeg)
YAOUNDE, Feb 20 (IPS) – Local weather change made 2023 the warmest yr on file. As urgency mounts to handle this worldwide disaster, phasing out the usage of fossil fuels is a needed step that each one nations should take. It’s because fossil fuels—coal, oil and fuel — are the first drivers of the local weather disaster accounting for over 75% of world greenhouse fuel emissions and practically 90% of all carbon dioxide emissions.
Fossil fuels could be linked to extreme human rights hurt. In keeping with the Worldwide Vitality Company, there can’t be any new fossil gas tasks if international locations are to fulfill current local weather targets and keep away from the worst penalties for frontline communities. Not addressing these points can create a human rights disaster of unprecedented scale.
One other moral crucial for phasing out from fossil fuels is our duty to communities going through loss and injury. Fossil gas tasks and infrastructure typically expose fence line and frontline communities to poisonous substances, environmental degradation, and elevated vulnerability to local weather disasters.
Fossil gas extraction and manufacturing typically violate the rights of indigenous peoples, native communities, and environmental defenders, who face land grabbing, displacement, violence, intimidation, and criminalization. This should change.
Once we take a look at the African continent, the present improve in funding in fossil fuels will improve Africa’s carbon emissions and lift Africa’s share of world local weather change.
In 2021, Africa contributed 3.9% (1.45 billion tonnes of CO2 eq.) of world carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and business. Persevering with with this vitality coverage could be very suicidal for his or her future within the face of the implications of local weather change.
There may be additionally an financial affect of fossil gas manufacturing too, particularly in Africa. Fossil gas subsidies and investments divert sources from addressing the wants and rights of individuals dwelling in poverty.
It’s effectively recognized that Africa has contributed the least to local weather change however nonetheless suffers essentially the most from its penalties. Since wealthy international locations have traditionally emitted essentially the most greenhouse gases, the aim of transitioning to renewable vitality sources is an act of duty and justice, offering help to these most in want.
Fossil gas extraction results in deforestation, habitat destruction, and water air pollution, which have contributed to 1.2 million deaths in 2020, resulting in biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation.
Within the DRC as an illustration, if the peatland is destroyed by the development of roads, pipelines and different infrastructure wanted to extract the oil, as much as 6 billion tonnes of CO? could possibly be launched, which is the equal of 14 years’ value of present UK greenhouse fuel emissions.
Via a transition to renewable energies comparable to wind energy and photo voltaic vitality, we will take management of the consequences of local weather change and help future era’s sustainability shifting ahead.
Africa has big renewable vitality potential – it has 60% of the world’s greatest photo voltaic sources, however the continent receives lower than 3% of world vitality funding.
As a area that has had the smallest affect on the local weather disaster however suffers important impacts now and sooner or later, the worldwide neighborhood should work with Africa to put money into its clear vitality future.
For example, Kenya is house to the Lake Turkana Wind Challenge, presently the most important wind farm in Africa. Output exceeds 310 MW—sufficient to energy 1 million houses.
The mission additionally attracted the most important personal funding in Kenya’s historical past, amounting to US$650 million. For Africa to realize its vitality and local weather objectives, Africa wants $190 billion of funding a yr between 2026 to 2030, with two-thirds of this going to scrub vitality.
Happily, some progress has been made towards ending use of fossil fuels on a world scale. Through the latest COP28 in Dubai, practically 130 nations permitted a roadmap for “transitioning away from fossil fuels“—a primary for a UN local weather convention—however the deal nonetheless stopped in need of a long-demanded name for a “phaseout” of oil, coal, and fuel.
That is what is required to transition away and assist maintain us from reaching the 1.5°C diploma restrict. One other shortcoming of COP28 is that there was neither a transparent dedication nor a well-funded phaseout of all fossil fuels, nor was there clear funding for international locations to transition to renewables and address escalating local weather impacts.
We’ve a duty to guard future generations and help weak communities. The international locations, companies, civil society, and leaders who got here collectively throughout COP28 and made this primary step deal ought to now stroll the discuss.
I can not agree extra with UN Secretary-Basic António Guterres who mentioned throughout COP28: ‘’{that a} fossil gas phaseout is inevitable, whether or not they prefer it or not. Let’s hope it doesn’t come too late.”
Being the custodians of the planet, it’s our ethical responsibility to go away a world that’s liveable for our youngsters and our grandchildren.
Sylvie Djacbou Deugoue is a Senior Aspen New Voices Fellow, a Coverage Advocate & campaigns Builder.
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