RePlanet Africa’s call on the World Bank to rethink its scale and pace of investment in clean energy access in Africa is timely as the continent grapples with the impact of climate change.
Development Diaries reports that Africa is the continent most susceptible to the effects of climate change in all scenarios, with temperatures exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Generating electricity and heat by burning fossil fuels causes a large chunk of global emissions, and many countries still generate electricity by burning coal, oil, or gas, which produces carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide.
‘Beyond the grid, the World Bank should adopt a broader definition of energy access in Africa to something more than just a light bulb’, RePlanet Africa Director, Patricia Nanteza, said.
‘Meaningful energy access must include reliable, sustainable, and affordable sources of power that meet the diverse needs of households including cooking’.
Over 640 million Africans have no access to energy, corresponding to an electricity access rate for African countries of just over 40 percent, the lowest in the world.
Access to energy is crucial not only for the attainment of health and education outcomes but also for reducing the cost of doing business, unlocking economic potential, and creating jobs.
Photo source: RePlanet Africa