- UN announces plans to boost clean energy transition in Africa.
The United Nations (UN) has disclosed a new plan to boost the transition to clean energy in the least developed countries, particularly in Africa. The organisation has launched a New Energy Compact Action Network initiative. It intends to mobilise 600 billion dollars for electrification and access to clean cooking by 2025.
The UN Action Network thus aims to connect governments seeking support for their clean energy goals with governments and companies that have already pledged to finance. The network brings together 200 governments, businesses, and other civil society partners who have committed to mobilising $600 billion to accelerate global access to electricity.
According to Damilola Ogunbiyi, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and Co-Chair of UN-Energy, “by creating opportunities for collaboration, the Network will turn the billions of dollars of funding and investment committed to the Energy Pacts into on-the-ground action for the sustainable energy future we urgently need.”
Before expanding to other countries, the network will begin its actions in Nigeria and Chile (in Latin America). The initiative will support Nigeria’s energy policy to provide access to electricity to 25 million people by 2023 by leveraging solar home systems and mini-grids to power five million homes, schools, hospitals and other public services. The UN noted that the network would also create 250,000 new jobs in Nigeria.