4
V. R. Nalule
development. Additionally, fossil fuels are vital for tackling energy access
challenges on the continent. Goal 7 of the United Nations Sustainable
Developmental Goals (SDG) advocates for access to affordable and clean
energy for all.
1
Although access to modern energy such as electricity is crucial to
addressing other global challenges such as poverty, famine and gender
inequality
2 : data shows that 3 billion people which is more than 40% of
the world population, are still relying on polluting and unhealthy fuels
for cooking.
3 The figures are worrying in Africa as reports show that 600
million people do not have access to electricity, and around 900 million
people lack access to clean cooking facilities.
4 Although the African
continent is endowed with massive renewable energy sources including
wind, solar and hydropower: the anticipated urbanisation and population growth will necessitate the utilisation of all the available energy
resources, including fossil fuels. The International Energy Agency (IEA)
data reveals that the African continent will become the most populous
region by 2023, as one-in-two people added to the world population
between today and 2040 are set to be African.
5 The anticipated boom in
population growth, urbanisation and industrialisation will necessitate an
increase in energy demand and consumption on the African continent.
Albeit, energy, especially fossil fuels, are the main contributor to climate
change as it produces around 60% of greenhouse gases.
African policymakers are therefore faced with the dilemma of
addressing the energy and economic challenges on the continent and at
the same time addressing the climate change challenges. As evidenced in
the data, by 2040 the continent will require more energy including fossil
1 SDGs UN. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, 2015.
2 Nalule, V.R., 2018. Energy Poverty and Access Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Role of
Regionalism. Springer.
3 United Nations Development Programme: SDG 7 on Clean Energy. Can be
accessed at, https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals/goal-7affordable-and-clean-energy.html.
4 IEA. 2019. Africa Energy Outlook 2019, IEA, Paris https://www.iea.org/reports/africa-energyoutlook-2019.
5 Ibid.
V. R. Nalule
development. Additionally, fossil fuels are vital for tackling energy access
challenges on the continent. Goal 7 of the United Nations Sustainable
Developmental Goals (SDG) advocates for access to affordable and clean
energy for all.
1
Although access to modern energy such as electricity is crucial to
addressing other global challenges such as poverty, famine and gender
inequality
2 : data shows that 3 billion people which is more than 40% of
the world population, are still relying on polluting and unhealthy fuels
for cooking.
3 The figures are worrying in Africa as reports show that 600
million people do not have access to electricity, and around 900 million
people lack access to clean cooking facilities.
4 Although the African
continent is endowed with massive renewable energy sources including
wind, solar and hydropower: the anticipated urbanisation and population growth will necessitate the utilisation of all the available energy
resources, including fossil fuels. The International Energy Agency (IEA)
data reveals that the African continent will become the most populous
region by 2023, as one-in-two people added to the world population
between today and 2040 are set to be African.
5 The anticipated boom in
population growth, urbanisation and industrialisation will necessitate an
increase in energy demand and consumption on the African continent.
Albeit, energy, especially fossil fuels, are the main contributor to climate
change as it produces around 60% of greenhouse gases.
African policymakers are therefore faced with the dilemma of
addressing the energy and economic challenges on the continent and at
the same time addressing the climate change challenges. As evidenced in
the data, by 2040 the continent will require more energy including fossil
1 SDGs UN. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, 2015.
2 Nalule, V.R., 2018. Energy Poverty and Access Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Role of
Regionalism. Springer.
3 United Nations Development Programme: SDG 7 on Clean Energy. Can be
accessed at, https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals/goal-7affordable-and-clean-energy.html.
4 IEA. 2019. Africa Energy Outlook 2019, IEA, Paris https://www.iea.org/reports/africa-energyoutlook-2019.
5 Ibid.