4 Nuclear Energy & Energy Transitions …
117
the use of renewable energy worldwide.
10 SSA countries are still struggling with energy access and energy poverty challenges. Moreover, SubSaharan Africa experiences energy insecurity due to some crucial changes
such as population growth, fast-tracked urbanization, economic development and relative price changes of other energy options. These make the
region more susceptible to the effects of climate change.
11 The people
therefore mainly depend on wood-based biomass for their energy needs,
with approximately 81% of households relying on it.
12 Most energy in
Sub-Saharan Africa, with South Africa being the exception, is used for
cooking, which accounts for around 70% of the total final consumption
as compared to less than 10% globally.
13 Therefore, taking into account
the energy access challenges in SSA, there is potential for nuclear energy
to contribute in tackling these challenges.
4.2.2 Nuclear Energy and Climate Change
Nuclear energy can play a significant role in not only tackling energy
access challenges in SSA but also the fight against climate change. There
is also a global movement to transition to a low-carbon economy and
10 See SDG 7.2; Many NDCs currently feature renewable energy which shows its role in
addressing climate change. Out of the 194 parties to the UNFCCC which adhered to the
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the 2015 Paris Agreement, for instance,
145 referred to renewable energy as being key in the mitigation of climate change. In addition, 109 parties have incorporated some form of quantified targets for renewables. Several
sub-Saharan African States have either ratified, accepted, approved or accented to the Paris
Agreement. The Agreement is in force in the countries including Botswana, Cameroon,
Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi,
South Africa, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe inter alia. They are thus enjoined to meet their
own NDCs as well as adhering to objectives and targets of the Agreement. See IRENA,
Untapped Potential for Climate Action: Renewable Energy in Nationally Determined Contributions, 2017, p. 7, International Renewable Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi, http://irena.org/-/media/
Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2017/Nov/IRENA_Untapped_potential_NDCs_2017.pdf; See
Also the UN Report of the Secretary-General, Special Edition: Progress Towards the Sustainable
Development Goals, 2019, Economic and Social Council.
11 World Bank, Wood -Based Biomass Energy Development for Sub-Saharan Africa: Issues and
Approaches, at p. 8, 2011, Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP); World
Bank, Washington, DC. © World Bank, https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/
26149, License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.
12 World Bank, 2011, ibid., at p. v.
13 IEA, Africa Energy Outlook 2019, supra, at p. 86.
117
the use of renewable energy worldwide.
10 SSA countries are still struggling with energy access and energy poverty challenges. Moreover, SubSaharan Africa experiences energy insecurity due to some crucial changes
such as population growth, fast-tracked urbanization, economic development and relative price changes of other energy options. These make the
region more susceptible to the effects of climate change.
11 The people
therefore mainly depend on wood-based biomass for their energy needs,
with approximately 81% of households relying on it.
12 Most energy in
Sub-Saharan Africa, with South Africa being the exception, is used for
cooking, which accounts for around 70% of the total final consumption
as compared to less than 10% globally.
13 Therefore, taking into account
the energy access challenges in SSA, there is potential for nuclear energy
to contribute in tackling these challenges.
4.2.2 Nuclear Energy and Climate Change
Nuclear energy can play a significant role in not only tackling energy
access challenges in SSA but also the fight against climate change. There
is also a global movement to transition to a low-carbon economy and
10 See SDG 7.2; Many NDCs currently feature renewable energy which shows its role in
addressing climate change. Out of the 194 parties to the UNFCCC which adhered to the
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the 2015 Paris Agreement, for instance,
145 referred to renewable energy as being key in the mitigation of climate change. In addition, 109 parties have incorporated some form of quantified targets for renewables. Several
sub-Saharan African States have either ratified, accepted, approved or accented to the Paris
Agreement. The Agreement is in force in the countries including Botswana, Cameroon,
Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi,
South Africa, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe inter alia. They are thus enjoined to meet their
own NDCs as well as adhering to objectives and targets of the Agreement. See IRENA,
Untapped Potential for Climate Action: Renewable Energy in Nationally Determined Contributions, 2017, p. 7, International Renewable Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi, http://irena.org/-/media/
Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2017/Nov/IRENA_Untapped_potential_NDCs_2017.pdf; See
Also the UN Report of the Secretary-General, Special Edition: Progress Towards the Sustainable
Development Goals, 2019, Economic and Social Council.
11 World Bank, Wood -Based Biomass Energy Development for Sub-Saharan Africa: Issues and
Approaches, at p. 8, 2011, Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP); World
Bank, Washington, DC. © World Bank, https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/
26149, License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.
12 World Bank, 2011, ibid., at p. v.
13 IEA, Africa Energy Outlook 2019, supra, at p. 86.