The first-ever Africa Climate Summit has wrapped up, leaving a trail of diverse reactions among participants and observers.
While climate activists have lauded the call for a commitment to triple global renewable energy capacity to 11,000 Gigawatts by 2030, some have expressed reservations and concerns over certain aspects of the summit’s outcomes.
Activists present at the summit have emphasized the importance of this ambitious goal, highlighting that achieving it is crucial to limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius and mitigating the worst effects of climate change.
They have praised African leadership for their efforts to scale up renewable energy and have urged African governments to secure additional financial and technological support for these initiatives.
However, a note of caution was sounded regarding what some participants perceive as “false solutions” and a push for fossil gas. Specifically, Senegal’s President Macky Sall and the African Development Bank’s President Akinwumi Adesina were singled out for their support of fossil gas during the summit’s high-level opening session.
Activists argue that the urgency of transitioning to renewable energy cannot be overstated, and any promotion of fossil fuels runs counter to the global imperative to address climate change.
Charity Migwi, a Regional Campaigner with 350Africa.org, commented on the summit’s outcomes, saying, “This is a promising start, but it does not meet our full expectations. African leadership on renewable energy is crucial, but it must be supported by the urgently needed financial resources. While African nations grapple with the devastating impacts of the climate crisis, some leaders are resorting to rhetoric and what we see as false solutions like fossil gas and carbon markets. These approaches only delay meaningful climate action and the essential transition away from fossil fuels, which is at the heart of the fight against the climate crisis.”
Migwi continued, “African countries must align their actions with their commitment to limiting global warming by steering clear of fossil fuels and harnessing the abundant renewable energy potential on the continent to implement genuine solutions to climate change and the energy crisis it poses. Additionally, the international community must step up and play a role in financing this energy transition because there is no time to waste.”