Energy and environment in Africa - the twin challenge of climate change mitigation and sustainable development

Climate change has emerged as the most critical challenge to sustained global economic growth, social well-being, quality of life, and political stability in the 21st century. In the last two years, two landmark reports – the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2007 report, and the Stern Review – have provided highly persuasive empirical evidence, analytical explanations of observed trends, and simulation model projections drawing stronger cause-and-effect linkages between human socio-economic activities and greenhouse gases (GHGs), and between the latter and climate change.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
  • Background: the Evidence of Climate Change
  • Africa's energy consumption
• Addressing the challenge of clean energy transformation.
  • Energy as a key pillar for sustained economic growth
  • Low access to renewable energy in Africa.
  • Financing gap in African energy provision
  • Renewable energy development potentials and barriers
  • Barriers to CDM finance
    • General lack of capacity and institution to create an enabling environment‍
    • Technical Barriers:
    • Financial Barriers
    • Legal Barriers
    • Gaps in the CDM Framework
• Meeting the twin challenge: response by the international community
  • The Gleneagles dialogue
  • implementation of the Climate Investment Funds
  • Conclusions

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This document explores the intertwined challenges of climate change mitigation and sustainable development in Africa, focusing on the role of energy in this complex equation. It examines the evidence of climate change and its impact on the continent, while highlighting the limited access to renewable energy sources in Africa. The text also addresses the financing gap in energy provision and explores barriers to clean energy transformation, specifically within the context of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Finally, it delves into international community responses to these challenges. Key themes include:

• The impact of climate change on Africa
• The critical role of energy access in promoting sustainable development in Africa.
• The barriers to clean energy transformation in Africa, including financial, technical, and legal limitations.
• The need for international cooperation and investment to address the twin challenges of climate change mitigation and sustainable development in Africa.
• The role of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in promoting sustainable development in Africa, while highlighting the challenges and opportunities associated with this mechanism.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Introduction

The introduction establishes the context for the document by highlighting the scientific evidence of climate change and its impact on the global economy. It presents the findings of the IPCC 2007 report and the Stern Review, both of which provide strong evidence for the human contribution to climate change and its projected consequences. This section then focuses on Africa's energy consumption patterns, emphasizing the continent's low per-capita energy usage and its significant dependence on traditional biomass fuels. The chapter also explores the disparities in access to modern energy services across the continent, highlighting the substantial challenges faced by many African countries.

Addressing the challenge of clean energy transformation

This chapter delves into the complexities of achieving a clean energy transition in Africa, emphasizing the crucial role of energy in driving economic growth and achieving sustainable development. The text addresses the substantial financing gap in African energy provision and analyzes the potential and barriers to renewable energy development on the continent. Specific attention is paid to the barriers hindering access to CDM finance, including a lack of capacity and institutional structures, as well as technical, financial, and legal limitations.

Meeting the twin challenge: response by the international community

This chapter examines the international community's response to the intertwined challenges of climate change mitigation and sustainable development in Africa. It highlights initiatives such as the Gleneagles dialogue and the implementation of the Climate Investment Funds, which aim to support clean energy development and climate resilience in developing countries. The final section provides a concluding summary of the key issues and challenges discussed in the document.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The document focuses on the critical interplay between energy access, climate change, and sustainable development in Africa. Key terms encompass: climate change mitigation, sustainable development, renewable energy, energy poverty, CDM finance, African energy access, and international cooperation. The document explores the challenges and opportunities associated with promoting clean energy transformation in Africa, emphasizing the need for comprehensive and sustainable solutions to address these intertwined challenges.

Details

• College: Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald (Summer Academy 2008)
• Course: Energy & Environment
• Grade: 1,3
• Author: M.A. Sebastian Veit (Author)
• Publication Year: 2008
• Pages: 18
• Catalog Number: V115931
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640174089
• ISBN (Book): 9783640174263
• Language: English
• Tags: Energy Africa Energy Environment climate change klimawandel global warming IPCC African; Development Bank strategy financing Adaptation mitigation financial flows continent