Publications /
Policy Brief

Back
Enhancing a Continental Policy on Energy Access in Africa
Authors
Priscillia Andrieu
October 24, 2016

Africa is the new frontier of a global energy transition during a century in which people are rightfully preoccupied by climate change and sustainable development. Energy access in Africa can be reached through unity within and across the continent. Eliminating the obstacles of the historical divisions of the continent – whether linguistic, economic, or geographic – would foment investments and development aid. The African Union would be best equipped to reallocate and redistribute resources if it developed a unique, dedicated continental tool to promote energy access in all of Africa. An African continental energy policy would provide the framework for international initiatives to effectively and transparently participate to increase clean and renewable energy access, responding to the needs of Africans as expressed by Africans themselves.

RELATED CONTENT

  • Authors
    September 24, 2024
    Green industrial policies are essential to enable the structural transformations needed for a successful transition to a low-carbon economy. Because of the pressing need to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, it is imperative to reallocate resources strategically from carbon-intensive sectors to sustainable, high-productivity industries. This transition is critical both to mitigate the impacts of climate change and to promote long-term economic growth and sustai ...
  • Authors
    September 10, 2024
    Over the next decade, the energy transition will transform the global economic landscape in terms of regulations, industrial and energy investments, and technological solutions. The African continent is set to play a significant role in this transition while addressing its own sustainable development needs. To fully capitalize on this emerging dynamic, African countries should pursue innovative paths tailored to their specific contexts and constraints. They should also identify stra ...
  • May 30, 2024
    L'Afrique, bien que jouant un rôle de plus en plus important, reste encore en marge sur la scène énergétique mondiale. Ce continent est riche en ressources énergétiques, qu'il s'agisse de pétrole, de gaz naturel, de charbon ou d'énergies renouvelables comme l'hydroélectricité, le solair...
  • Authors
    May 23, 2024
    Au cours de la prochaine décennie, la transition énergétique transformera le paysage économique mondial en termes de régulations, d’investissements industriels et énergétiques et de solutions technologiques développées. Le continent africain est appelé à jouer un rôle important dans cette transition, tout en répondant à ses propres besoins de développement durable. Pour tirer pleinement profit de cette dynamique naissante, les pays africains devraient s'engager sur de ...
  • Authors
    Sabrina Camélia Pagop
    Luc Savard
    April 29, 2024
    This study conducts an in-depth exploration of the increasing interest in voluntary carbon markets (VCMs) in Africa, shedding light on the potential opportunities and challenges associated with African participation in these markets. VCMs have gained prominence as promising means to address climate change, driven by substantial financial incentives and market expansion. Nonetheless, persistent debates revolve around the legitimacy of carbon credits and their tangible contributions t ...
  • April 19, 2024
    The global energy crisis caused by COVID-19 and the Ukraine conflict has exposed the economic and geopolitical vulnerabilities of North Africa, which relies heavily on fossil fuels. Howev ...
  • Authors
    Hamza Mjahed
    Camellia Mahjoubi
    April 2, 2024
    The current decade is critical for global decarbonization. The ongoing energy transition will bring about changes in technology, commodities, infrastructure, supply chains, as well as geopolitical factors, which could give rise to new energy security challenges. It is therefore important to undertake a thorough re-evaluation of energy security dynamics, with a view to enhancing the resilience of power systems. In this paper, we examine North Africa’s energy transition trajectory th ...
  • Authors
    February 13, 2024
    As a net energy importer seeking to improve its energy security, Morocco has stepped up initiatives to achieve a level of domestic energy sovereignty. This includes following guidelines for transitioning to cleaner energy sources, with an emphasis on diversification. This diversification extends to natural gas, solar and wind power, and innovative solutions such as green hydrogen. Morocco recognizes cooperation as a crucial element for the success of its strategies, as underlined by ...