8
V. R. Nalule
impacts, what we often ignore is that fossil fuels have a significant role
to play in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Firstly, revenues from
fossil fuels can be used to finance and invest in clean energy projects.
Additionally, the massive natural gas resources on the continent could
contribute to climate change mitigation and global energy security.
17
Scholars have identified five key drivers to the global energy transition
including addressing climate change; meeting domestic energy demand;
tackling energy access challenges; the realisation that oil and gas resources
across the region are not infinite and could be depleted within the next
few decades; and the fall in oil prices.
18 Some of these drivers are briefly
discussed below in as far as they impact on the future of fossil fuels in
Africa.
The first one is the need to address climate change as envisaged in
the 2015 Paris Agreement. African countries are already subjected to
extreme weather conditions, including droughts and floods. A case in
point is the El Niño climate event in Southern Africa which left approximately 21.3 million people in the region requiring emergence assistance
due to the drought it caused since 2015, hence leading to famine.
19 In
this respect, African countries must set targets and strategies to respond
to climate change impacts and the global move to transition to a lowcarbon economy. Besides setting targets to increase renewables in the
energy mix, African countries have already committed, in their intentionally determined contributions (INDCs), to investing in climate-smart
energy systems that lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In Kenya,
for instance, the country’s INDC includes both mitigation and adaptation. Concerning mitigation, the country commits to invest more
in renewables, including geothermal, solar and wind energy production. Additionally, the country also commits to making progress towards
achieving a tree cover of at least 10% of the land area of Kenya.
20
17 Olawuyi, D.S., 2020. Can MENA Extractive Industries Support the Global Energy Transition?
Current Opportunities and Future Directions. The Extractive Industries and Society.
18 Ibid.
19 United States Agency for International Development. Southern Africa Drought, Fact Sheet.
USAID January 2017. https://scms.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1866/southern_afr
ica_dr_fs04_01-30-2017.pdf.
20 Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources: Kenya’s Intended Nationally Determined
Contributions (INDC) 23 July 2015.
V. R. Nalule
impacts, what we often ignore is that fossil fuels have a significant role
to play in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Firstly, revenues from
fossil fuels can be used to finance and invest in clean energy projects.
Additionally, the massive natural gas resources on the continent could
contribute to climate change mitigation and global energy security.
17
Scholars have identified five key drivers to the global energy transition
including addressing climate change; meeting domestic energy demand;
tackling energy access challenges; the realisation that oil and gas resources
across the region are not infinite and could be depleted within the next
few decades; and the fall in oil prices.
18 Some of these drivers are briefly
discussed below in as far as they impact on the future of fossil fuels in
Africa.
The first one is the need to address climate change as envisaged in
the 2015 Paris Agreement. African countries are already subjected to
extreme weather conditions, including droughts and floods. A case in
point is the El Niño climate event in Southern Africa which left approximately 21.3 million people in the region requiring emergence assistance
due to the drought it caused since 2015, hence leading to famine.
19 In
this respect, African countries must set targets and strategies to respond
to climate change impacts and the global move to transition to a lowcarbon economy. Besides setting targets to increase renewables in the
energy mix, African countries have already committed, in their intentionally determined contributions (INDCs), to investing in climate-smart
energy systems that lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In Kenya,
for instance, the country’s INDC includes both mitigation and adaptation. Concerning mitigation, the country commits to invest more
in renewables, including geothermal, solar and wind energy production. Additionally, the country also commits to making progress towards
achieving a tree cover of at least 10% of the land area of Kenya.
20
17 Olawuyi, D.S., 2020. Can MENA Extractive Industries Support the Global Energy Transition?
Current Opportunities and Future Directions. The Extractive Industries and Society.
18 Ibid.
19 United States Agency for International Development. Southern Africa Drought, Fact Sheet.
USAID January 2017. https://scms.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1866/southern_afr
ica_dr_fs04_01-30-2017.pdf.
20 Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources: Kenya’s Intended Nationally Determined
Contributions (INDC) 23 July 2015.