Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, president-designate of COP28, called for scaling up investments to help African countries transition to green energy sources. Speaking at the Africa Energy Forum in Nairobi, Al Jaber said that Africa is ripe for a green energy revolution but that targeted financing and conducive policies are needed to make it happen. Al Jaber noted that Africa is facing a climate crisis, causing droughts, floods, and the destabilization of livelihoods. He said that clean energy investments in Africa should be intensified now to help the continent mitigate the effects of climate change.
As host of COP28, Al Jaber said the UAE will lobby rich nations and multilateral lenders to honor their commitment to climate financing in Africa. He also acknowledged Africa’s vast renewable energy potential, including solar, wind, and geothermal. Al Jaber said these resources could be harnessed to secure the continent’s climate-resilient and inclusive future.
In addition to financing, Al Jaber said that smart policies and regulations, innovative funding, and the uptake of clean technologies would be vital to decarbonizing Africa’s energy, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors. He also said that Africa’s entrepreneurial youth deserve financial support, training, and market linkages to scale up green innovations that are key to poverty alleviation and enhancing the ecosystem’s health.
