For African countries to attain middle-income status, and societal and individual prosperity, the persisting energy poverty must be tackled headlong and reflected in the global energy transition conversations, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has said.
He outlined specific pathways that will lead to climate-positive economic growth in the continent and realisation of the global net-zero emissions targets.
The vice president in a statement released yesterday by his office, said “Africa’s endowments, renewable energy, natural resources and a young workforce, present a compelling set of circumstances for several pathways to climate-positive growth.”
Osinbajo’s views were contained in a special public lecture titled: “Energy Transition in Africa”, which he gave at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, United States of America (USA).
These pathways, according to him, are “Low emissions consumption and production, the point being that Africa can, instead of going the carbon-intensive path to providing energy, goods and services for its own needs, take full advantage of green technologies and practices. There is the distinct advantage that Africa can actually pursue a green course of growth without worrying about costly legacy infrastructure.
“The second pathway is that having recognized the fact that global zero carbon ambitions cannot be realised without intentional carbon removal technologies and practices, Africa can ramp up her own potential to do this at scale through a combination of planned land use and ecosystem management, and investment in emerging engineered removal technologies. Already Africa’s large carbon sinks, currently store years of global emissions and the abundant supply of unused agricultural waste is available as biomass for clean energy production and soil improvement.
“The third pathway, is that, with its abundant reserves of renewable energy and raw materials, Africa can become a hugely competitive green manufacturing and energy hub for the world that could also accelerate the greening of global industry. Thus, the paradox of an energy-poor continent becoming the green industrial powerhouse of the world is easily resolvable and must be,” the VP said.
He further proposed that the developed world changes its perception of Africa and not see the continent merely as a victim but as a solution in the climate change conversations and the attainment of the global net zero targets by 2050-2060.
Osinbajo said, “Africa’s own growth and development are not being seriously accommodated in the global Energy Transition conversations. Yet, a strategic key to attaining global net zero by 2050 may well lie in seeing Africa from a different paradigm, not merely as a victim but as a solution.”
On energy poverty, Osinbajo argued that it can only be resolved “if there is a significant investment in renewable energy, and that can only happen if we create the energy intense anchor demand that makes the investment in additional renewable energy bankable. Therefore, it is not which comes first – renewable energy generation capacity or industrial deployment, both must be developed concurrently.”
On Africa’s dependence on its oil and gas resources, he said “the use of gas as a transition fuel will not significantly derail our commitment to carbon-negative growth. Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan attempts to chart an energy transition pathway which has as its bedrock, the development of renewable energy, specifically solar.
“The plan is to develop 250 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2060. The plan outlines our decarbonisation strategies in the areas of power, oil and gas transportation, etc. It also mitigates against medium to long-term job losses in an industry that has dominated the economy for decades.
“It recommends the role of gas as a transition fuel, to balance large influxes of solar power on the grid, its use as a cheaper, and relatively clean option for base load power for industry, as we watch the cost of solar batteries plunge,” he said.
In her welcome remarks, the interim provost of the University of Pennsylvania, Prof. Beth Winkelstein, said the planet is facing an “existential struggle against climate change for our earth and indeed for us to last, we must join with our fellow nations around the world in this struggle.
“Like many countries including the United States, Nigeria is challenged by competing and sometimes conflicting interests and its development prospects are complex. Nigeria holds amongst the continent’s largest proven oil reserves and faces a potentially perilous future of climate-induced sea level rise and drought. In short, global progress in the battle against climate change needs Nigeria’s partnership and participation.”
Also, Prof. Tukufu Zuberi of the Africana Centre spoke about the relationship between the University and Nigeria, thanking the vice president for honouring the institution’s invitation, and noting that the lecture series was part of its efforts in correcting the negative perceptions about Africa.
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