- The green energy transition is one of the five key areas of the African-European partnership.
- European entities are exploring green hydrogen production in African countries.
- Wealthy nations had failed to keep their promise of US$100m in climate finance.
The EU has announced a €150-billion investment plan for Africa to focus on the green transition. The green energy transition is one of the five key areas of the African-European partnership established in 2020. This plan includes a proposal for a carbon border adjustment mechanism. This will be a levy on certain imported goods that negatively impacts African exporters. Fossil fuels constitute by far the largest share of EU imports from Africa. However, Europe also recognises the need to continue investing in gas for its use while ending financing for gas in developing countries.
Developing new green energy value and supply chains that enable African economies to grow should be an Africa-EU Partnership priority. Some European entities are exploring green hydrogen production in African countries as an alternative to fossil fuel imports. Hydrogen is very energy-intensive.
If the production of European exports requires energy sources in areas where local African populations don’t have energy access, it won’t be sustainable. The gas debate should be context-specific and balance countries’ economic progress with de-carbonisation. Africa is rich in these resources – 60% of the world’s cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Green industrialisation is vital to diversify and develop African economies and make them less dependent on resource extraction and fossil fuels. It will be impossible without energy access. These tensions were shown at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow last year when African countries noted that wealthy nations had failed to keep their promise of US$100-million in climate finance.