Rising inequalities and unprecedented biodiversity loss have for long been some of the major effects of climate change.
The Covid-19 pandemic only added to the suffering that the world has consistently faced with Africa bearing the brunt of this onslaught. Africa has for decades lagged behind the rest of the world only excelling in a few economic sectors which have little impact on the overall economic wellbeing of the continent.
One area where Africa continues suffering is the access to clean energy.
The IMF estimates that an estimated half of sub-Saharan Africa's (SSA) population today does not have access to electricity. Additionally, those who can access this resource pay nearly twice as much, on average, as consumers elsewhere in the world.
Outdated technologies
It is not a strange thing then that power shortage costs the continent about 2 to 4 per cent of GDP every year. And things can only get thicker unless proactive steps are taken to arrest the situation.
Electricity needs can only grow in the foreseeable future due to the fact that sub-Saharan Africa's population is expected to more than double from one billion in 2018 to more than two billion people in 2050. This shows that the current infrastructure notwithstanding, the continent has only one option and that is to ensure that the projected demand for electricity can be satisfied.
With the IMF's projection that the continent's power demands will expand by three per cent every year, Africa has put in place measures to steadily increase power generation and access to electricity. Greater energy efficiency will also go a long way in addressing the challenge.
Already, by not meeting the demand for energy, there are ripple consequences for health and the environment. Coal, oil and traditional biomass which include wood, charcoal and dry dung fuel are the current energy sources in Africa. This energy mix is largely harmful not only to the environment but also to the health of those who use it.
With outdated technologies in the energy sector, the continent is being left behind by the rest of the world in moving towards clean energy technologies. While this energy mix is cheap in comparison to other sources, it cannot meet the rising demand. In addition, and despite Africa being the world's least greenhouse gases (GHGs) contributor, the negative effects on the environment cannot be left unaddressed.
Looking ahead 30 years, the continent's energy sources have to change. This is if African governments are to provide a healthy environment for their citizens while also meeting the emission limits for GHGs as set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Low-carbon approach
However, there are hurdles towards providing clean energy in Africa, the biggest of which is financing.
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