African heads of state unveiled an ambitious plan Tuesday to double the continent’s total electricity supply by 2030, delivering up to 300 gigawatts of renewable energy to many of the 640 million Africans who currently lack access to electricity.
“This initiative can transform Africa’s energy systems, grow African economies, and help improve energy access,” said WWF Africa Climate Change Coordinator Asrat Yirgu. “African countries have abundant renewable energy resources—now these will power our future.”
Samantha Smith, Leader of WWF’s Global Climate and Energy Initiative, stressed that “African countries are driving this initiative, and other countries are supporting it with finance and technology. This is exactly the kind of collaborative, large-scale action we need if we hope to forge a path to a safer climate future. It is also the latest example that shows we can have both zero carbon and zero poverty.”
The African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) “aims to achieve 10 gigawatts of new renewables by 2020 and mobilize the potential to generate 300 gigawatts by 2030,” WWF reports. The plan “will help African nations embrace low-carbon development strategies while creating jobs, improving energy security, and bringing clean, safe, and affordable energy to the 640 million Africans who currently lack access to it.”
“This is a game changer for Africa,” said Christian Aid’s Senior Climate Advisor, Mohamed Adow. “To put it in context, Africa’s current total energy output is 150GW. This would deliver double that amount, and all of it clean and renewable.”
Adow described the announcement as “an exceptional moment in Africa’s history,” adding that “I am proud to see Africa, despite its current low emissions, lead the world in realizing these easily available and underutilized natural resources.”
