- Africa must prioritise universal energy access, sequencing renewables and transitional fuels for reliable, sustainable power.
- At COP30, it calls for $1.3 trillion in climate finance, a Loss and Damage Fund, and recognition of its ecosystems.
Africa must put universal energy access at the centre of its climate strategy, Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani of EnergyInc said in a recent article during the ongoing COP30, in Belem, Brazil.
She said that millions of Africans still lack access to reliable electricity. “Without power, factories cannot operate, digital economies cannot grow, and essential services from hospitals to schools remain constrained,” she wrote.
Akinkugbe-Filani urged a phased approach to close the continent’s energy gap. She said Africa cannot rely on renewables alone because weak grids, limited storage, and low industrial-scale capacity limit supply. She called for managed use of transitional fuels, including natural gas, to stabilise grids and support industry while scaling clean energy.
Furthermore, she highlighted Africa’s vulnerability to climate change. The continent produces less than 4% of global emissions, yet it suffers disproportionately from droughts, floods, food insecurity, and displacement. She criticised slow and fragmented climate finance, which focuses more on mitigation than adaptation.
At COP30, she said Africa demands:
- $1.3 trillion in annual climate finance by 2030, with more support for adaptation and resilience.
- A fully operational Loss and Damage Fund to provide predictable support without increasing debt.
- A just energy transition that allows industrialisation and job creation while lowering emissions.
- Recognition of Africa’s ecosystems as global public goods with sustained financing.
Akinkugbe-Filani urged African governments to leverage domestic capital, including pensions, insurance, and sovereign assets, to fund energy infrastructure. She said sequencing, strengthening grids, scaling renewables, and phasing out transitional fuels offer the most sustainable path to universal energy access and climate resilience.