Renewable Energy Coalition (REC) appelle au renforcement du financement pour les Énergies Renouvelables en Afrique à la COP29
À l’approche de la clôture de la COP29, le constat est accablant : les négociations sur le financement climatique, en particulier pour les énergies renouvelables, stagnent, et l’urgence d’agir n’a jamais été aussi pressante. Le manque de consensus sur le montant du financement nécessaire pour soutenir la transition énergétique mondiale laisse de nombreux pays vulnérables, dont ceux d'Afrique, dans l’incertitude. Le Réseau des Énergies Renouvelables (REC), qui œuvre pour la promotion des solutions renouvelables au Bénin et au Togo, déplore cette situation qui freine le développement de projets essentiels pour la résilience climatique des populations locales. Sans des engagements clairs et des financements conséquents, la transition énergétique dans ces pays restera un rêve lointain.
Renewable Energy Coalition (REC) rappelle qu’avec un potentiel considérable dans le domaine des énergies solaires et éoliennes, le Bénin et le Togo pourraient transformer leur paysage énergétique, mais cela nécessite des investissements massifs et des financements à la hauteur de l’urgence climatique. La promesse de 100 milliards de dollars par an a été trop longtemps insuffisante, et les discussions actuelles sur un nouveau quantum de financement sont bien trop lentes pour répondre aux besoins immédiats des pays les plus affectés. Les énergies renouvelables ne doivent pas être une option secondaire mais une priorité mondiale, surtout pour les pays d'Afrique, qui sont à la fois les plus vulnérables au changement climatique et les moins responsables de ses causes.
Face à cette impasse, notre coalition appelle la communauté internationale à s’engager politiquement et financièrement pour un financement accru dans les énergies renouvelables. L'heure est à l'action et non à la parole, et les promesses doivent se concrétiser. Il est impératif que les pays du Nord augmentent leur soutien financier pour permettre aux pays comme le Bénin et le Togo de réaliser leurs ambitions climatiques et énergétiques. Le développement de projets d’énergie propre dans ces pays ne peut plus attendre, et la COP29 doit marquer un tournant décisif pour un avenir énergétique juste et durable pour tous.
Esso Pedessi
Coordinateur de Renewable Energy Coalition (REC) au Togo
Solar for Ogoniland: Promoting Clean Energy in Kaani Community
Ogoniland, located in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, is the third-largest mangrove ecosystem in the world, spanning nearly 1,000 square kilometers in Rivers State with a population of around 832,000. It is characterized by natural beauty and resources. Despite these unique features, the land, once thriving with rich biodiversity, now faces severe environmental degradation. Oil exploration has left a trail of devastation in this region, with pollution, gas flaring and oil spills ruining the land and water. The Ogoni people of the area, who rely on farming and fishing as means of livelihoods, have been severely impacted as a result. Food insecurity, contaminated water and health issues are part of their daily struggles.
In Kaani community of Ogoniland, which has existed since the 15th century, these challenges are compounded by energy poverty. The community lacks access to electricity, despite the ongoing presence of oil exploration. Residents rely on kerosene and biomass for lighting, which not only provides inadequate light but also leads to indoor air pollution, causing respiratory illnesses.
Recognizing this challenge faced by the community, the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), through her Solar For Communities Initiative, trained and empowered the women and youths of the community as solar technicians. With financial support from Global Green Grant Funds (GGF) and 350Africa, this initiative tackles the community’s energy challenges head-on by promoting clean energy solutions. In partnership with LEKEH Development Foundation, Society for Women and Youth Affairs (SWAYA) and Quest for Growth and Development Foundation, GIFSEP engaged and empowered the people of Kaani. The project provided hands-on training for 200 women and youths from the community, educating them on solar energy installation and maintenance. As solar technicians, the community members learned the value of renewable energy and acquired skills that would enable them to install and maintain solar systems, thus serving as a means of livelihood.
Through this initiative, seventy-five (75) beneficiaries received components of a solar system, consisting of a solar panel, charge controller, battery, DC bulbs and switches; they practicalized their taught skills by installing these components in their homes under the supervision of experienced solar technicians. With this, seventy-five (75) houeholds in the Kaani community are now equipped with reliable and sustainable energy, replacing their dependence on kerosene and biomass. Furthermore, this has been a transformative experience for the community, thus providing lighting solutions and charging solutions, replacing the five hundred naira (NGN 500) they spent before on charging phones. seventy-five (75) homes in Kaani community are now equipped with reliable and sustainable energy solutions.
With this transition to solar power, Kaani is addressing critical issues reducing indoor pollution, reducing the cost of charging phones, cutting down on deforestation caused by the use of biomass and promoting energy independence. This initiative furthermore contributes to the health and well-being of the community, providing a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations. This initiative emphasizes the transformative power of renewable energy in marginalized communities like Kaani. It frames the solar energy initiative in Kaani as both a beacon of hope and a critical step toward restoring dignity and sustainability in Ogoniland.
Through this, Kaani community is moving towards a brighter, more resilient future. Another outcome of this intervention is that, the project has garnered the attention of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has requested we submit a proposal for the upscaling of the Solar for Ogoni initiative, recognizing the value of our work and the potential for future collaboration. We are optimistic about receiving a positive response pending the submission of our proposal and look forward to the opportunity to expand the transition of marginalised communities like Kaani community to solar power with the NDDC’s support.
-By Terrence M. Jeiyol
Defending the Defenders
Last week Ugandan environmental defenders working around issues of environment and extractives met in Kampala for a 5-day workshop on risk assessment and security planning. The workshop was organized by Defend Defenders.
Five organizations working in the environment and extractives were present at the training that aimed at equipping participants with basic knowledge and skills on physical and digital security alongside empowering the participants to conduct security risk assessments and to identify strategies that would help them mitigate risks.
The workshop was inspired by a risk assessment done by DefendDefenders of the organizations that participated in the court case against Total for alleged human and environmental rights violations triggered by its operations in Uganda. Total is one of two operating companies of the Lake Albert Oil Project, together with China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), and of the giant pipeline EACOP project., The risk assessment concluded the need to build the capacity of the organizations involved in order to ensure they are ready to prevent and respond to any security threats related to their work.
This comes a few weeks after a similar gathering organized by 350.org took place in Brazil that brought together climate defenders from 5 continents and 23 countries whose aim was to equip participants involved with similar skills and capacity related to safety, resilience and cross-regional solidarity.
Youths in Nairobi oppose the proposed coal plant project in Lamu: Advocates for green energy
On 14th of March 2019, youths in Nairobi took a dire initiative to oppose the 1,050 megawatts coal plant project. A project under Amu Power Company (a special purpose joint venture of Gulf Energy and Centum Investment) is to be established at Kwasasi Village in Hindi Division, Lamu west.
With their placards raised high, the youths walked through the University of Nairobi from end to end hiking the awareness of the harmful flip of the project. They talked one on one with students as they gave out the factsheets that had well-defined details of the intended project. The project is prospected to beget harmful health and environmental effects, livelihood effects on communities, unprofitable and unsound economics and violation in licenses.
Additionally, the youths had alternative solutions on their placards that could be put in place instead of the detrimental project. They vehemently advocated for green energy as they passed the same knowledge to fellow youths.
The youths roundly tweeted their dissents using the hashtag #deCOALonize and #OnePlanetSummit. They directed their messages and awareness to The Kenya Government and French Government following the 3rd global One Planet Summit that was taking place in Nairobi Kenya at the United Nations.
Today in #Kenya, the One Planet Summit kicks off. The Summit's goal is to accelerate and step up climate action for Africa. One of the main sponsors is the African Development Bank, who has yet to make this commitment. Ask the AfDB to go 100% renewables https://t.co/Azg0dSpwMf pic.twitter.com/LazAwnbIwT
— 350 Africa (@350Africa) March 14, 2019
The Summit was geared to focus on ways to accelerate and step-up climate action in Africa and specifically on expanding renewable energy, protecting biodiversity, and boosting adaptation and resilience.
Activist groups such as Save Lamu, Lamu Youth Alliance, deCOALonize Coalition, NGOs etc. have been campaigning tirelessly to stop the building of the proposed coal plant in Lamu, Kwa Sasi region. This was an effort under 350 in support of the deCOALonize campaign and is one of many to come strategic actions, to #deCOALonize Kenya.
- Ian Elroy Ogonji, 350Kenya Volunteer.
Why we’re Breaking Free from fossil fuels on the 25th of May
We’re gearing up in South Africa and together with groups from all over the continent to #BreakFree from fossil fuels on the 25th of May - Africa Day. With groups hosting events in many different countries, we hope it will be a day where we demonstrate that African people do not want fossil fuels.
This is why we think this work is so important:
- Fossil fuels are killing us. Burning of coal for electricity causes terrible air pollution which has been shown to be responsible for illness and deaths among those affected.
- Climate change is impacting our continent hardest, displacing people and destroying livelihoods.
Image © AlJazeera - We believe a more equitable energy future is possible. Renewable energy has the potential to put the power of generation in many people's hands, not only a few.
- We need a united voice. There are many African people and groups working to end the age of fossil fuels in Africa, if we all come together at the same time though, our voices are more powerful. deCOALonise.africa was started in order to do this.
What are your reasons for getting involved? We’d love to hear them.
You can help us by joining an event near you, or hosting your own event. Can you believe that our very own African Development Bank is financing coal-fired power plants all over Africa? Join us in showing them that we want to deCOALonise our continent!
#ThumaMina – call on the DBSA to publicly commit to not financing new coal
We all know we don't need another coal plant. Besides the immediate impact on the health of people living close to the plant, emissions from coal-fired power plants contribute to climate change. Burning more coal will only lead to more catastrophic climate change, more extreme weather and even more impacts like the drought in the Cape and dangerous storms. Coal is killing us and our planet and it's time we took action to stop it.
South Africa is at the shore of a national water crisis. Corruption within the coal sector threatens the country’s democracy and has been entrenched into the highest levels of governance. Reports on how load shedding was used as a money-making scheme, irregularities within the Water and Sanitation Department and ensuing economic misfortune has reached extreme levels and has South Africans feeling despondent in the midst of a water crisis. In order to avoid the situation becoming any worse, public and private financial institutions need to be persuaded to break ties with the coal sector, which threatens our collective well being.
This is why 350Africa has launched the Thuma Mina(lend a hand) DBSA campaign calling on the DBSA to permanently withdraw from financing Thabametsi. The plant will use outdated technology and as a result will be a coal plant with disproportionate emissions, impacts on human health, water availability, and agricultural productivity in an age when any new coal plant cannot compete economically with renewable energy and is a climate crime. Set to begin operating in 2021 with a lifespan of 45 years, the plant would mean that either South Africa will not be able to meet its climate change obligations, or that the power plant will close early, becoming a stranded asset.
The Life After Coal campaign has made incredible progress towards stopping Thabametsi. We now call on the DBSA to continue their work supporting renewable energy and commit to not funding this new coal power plant. Their slogan is #MakeChangeHappen, let’s do it sustainably.
You can join the call by visiting the campaign website and signing the petition asking the DBSA to commit to not funding coal.