Ahead of the second Africa Climate Summit (8 to 10 September) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, African partner organisations of Germanwatch and Misereor are sounding the alarm: they are urging a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels and calling for the Global North to take more responsibility for financing the energy transition. This is the only way to ensure that the future of the African continent is sustainable and fair.
"Oil and gas companies are leaving a trail of destruction in many African countries," says Justin Mutabesha, Misereor partner and climate activist from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In view of the plans to open up 52 new oil deposits for extraction in the DR Congo alone, he warns: "This is a catastrophic decision that threatens the second largest rainforest on earth and causes irreparable damage." According to Mutabesha's organisation Brigade Verte DRC, dependence on international corporations is driving exploitation and keeping the population in poverty. Samira Ally from Power Shift Africa emphasises that universal access to clean energy must be a top priority. "Because only if all people have access to renewable energy can the energy transition succeed in a sustainable and inclusive way," emphasises Ally.
COP 30 in view
African countries and partner organisations are using the Africa Climate Summit to set the course for the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP 30) in Belém, Brazil, in November - especially for the promotion of renewable energy in Africa. At the same time, civil society actors are warning of the growing influence of lobby groups from the oil and gas industry: "There is a renewed threat of attempts to persuade African states to realise new oil, gas and coal projects. This not only undermines global climate goals, but also runs counter to the interests of the African population," criticises Misereor climate expert Madeleine Alisa Wörner.
Funding commitments from Europe
The results of the Africa Climate Summit have a signalling effect - both for many African countries and for international climate policy. German and European funding commitments play a decisive role in this: "In view of the current budget debates with the threat of further cuts in the development budget, it is particularly important that Germany not only maintains its financial support for renewable energies in Africa, but also expands it in a targeted manner. Every euro spent on climate protection there prevents several times more damage here and there. It is important to avoid climate-damaging investments," emphasises Kerstin Opfer, expert on energy policy in Africa at Germanwatch.
Partner organisations at the summit
Partner organisations of Misereor and Germanwatch are on site at the Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa and are campaigning for an energy transition together with African initiatives.
