Africa-Paris declaration on energy transition, climate justice and energy poverty

By NJ Ayuk | Jun. 7, 2024 | 4 Min read

Nj Ayuk is the executive chair of the Africa Energy Chamber

The declaration aligns Africa’s position on the global energy transition and climate justice debate, following the conclusion of the Invest in African Energy forum in Paris.

African civil society, human rights groups, environmental groups, governments and the private sector stand firm in their commitment to align Africa’s efforts in combating energy poverty and fostering industrialisation, all while advocating for a just energy transition and ensuring climate justice. This steadfast commitment was underscored by the conclusion of the Invest in African Energy forum held in Paris on May 15.

The Forum brought together key stakeholders from across the continent and beyond to address the pressing energy challenges facing Africa. Held in Paris – the city where the Paris Climate Agreement was signed in 2016 – discussions focused on strategies to attract investment, promote sustainable energy development and drive economic growth while prioritising environmental responsibility.

Addressing energy poverty

African civil society, human rights groups, environmental groups, governments and the private sector recognise the critical importance of addressing energy poverty, which continues to impede socio-economic progress in many African countries. By fostering an environment conducive to investment and innovation, we Africans aim to unlock the continent’s vast energy potential and empower communities with access to reliable, affordable energy sources.

The Paris Declaration calls for fruitful discussions and collaborations, highlighting the shared commitment of African nations, global investors, and industry leaders to drive sustainable energy development across the continent.

Moving forward, we remain dedicated to championing Africa’s energy agenda, advocating for policies that balance economic growth with environmental stewardship, and empowering African nations to realise their energy potential while advancing climate goals.

Africa’s sovereign right

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We recognise Africa’s sovereign right to develop its energy resources – which include north of 125 billion barrels of oil and 620 trillion cubic feet of natural gas – in a balanced and sustainable manner. Ramping up energy investment, deploying continuous finance and advancing energy projects represent Africa’s core priorities, as 600 million Africans lack access to reliable power and 900 million Africans lack access to clean cooking fuels.

Projects like the TotalEnergies-led Mozambique LNG development and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline seek to maximise Africa’s resources for the benefit of local communities. In West Africa, developments such as Perenco’s Cap Lopez LNG Terminal and associated LPG facility, the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline and the Eni-led Congo LNG project will catalyse long-term economic growth and energy resilience, with natural gas, LNG and LPG set to play a critical role in the continent’s energy poverty reduction strategy.

The Southern African region is only just starting to realise the full potential of its oil and gas resources, with recent discoveries made in Zimbabwe’s Cabora Bassa Basin by Invictus Energy and Namibia’s prolific Orange Basin by Shell, TotalEnergies and Galp. Namibia is also home to the development of sub-Saharan Africa’s largest green hydrogen project led by Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, while Mauritania is pioneering green hydrogen through Chariot’s Project Nour and CWP Global’s AMAN Project, coupled with expanded gas development from the bp-operated Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project.

Finance challenge

Despite Africa’s unmet energy requirements, global energy lending has only tightened, as major European and other Western banks exit the fossil fuels industry in Africa, while financing fossil fuels in Western countries.

These institutions have not been equitable when it comes to facilitating adequate energy and climate finance for African countries, where local populations are disproportionately affected by both climate risks and restrictions on fossil fuel development.

Europe has made repeated calls for natural gas and green finance, yet there is a considerable blockage on energy finance for African countries. This chokehold continues to inhibit Africa’s industrial growth and the establishment of critical gas-driven industries like power, petrochemicals, fertilisers and mining, keeping the continent at a developmental lag.

We Africans deplore the continuous polarisation of the energy dialogue in Western countries and call on the demonisation of African oil and gas to stop. We urge free market solutions to Africa, and not a continuous push for aid so that Africans pledge to leave their resources in the ground. More aid is not the answer. Investment is key. From Cape to Cairo, from Nairobi to Dakar, we stand united toward meeting our shared obligations to fight climate change, noting that wealthy nations need to decarbonise and Africa needs to industrialise.

It is the position of African civil society, human rights groups, environmental groups, governments, and the private sector that African countries must diversify available pools of capital and create financial instruments outside of traditional institutions – tapping into private equity and non-conventional bonds – to fund new exploration and energy initiatives.

Moreover, African countries must put in place attractive regulatory and fiscal terms, thereby creating an enabling environment and removing all barriers to investment, such as incoherent regulation, excessive red tape or nationalistic policies. With competitive terms and incentives in place – followed by the integration of ESG principles and capacity building requirements – African energy projects will be able to compete effectively for global capital and work towards making energy poverty history across the continent.