Growing calls on putting an end to the spread of coal, oil and gas in Africa by NGOs

Figure 1 Solar-powered weight-scale used at the rural Esigodini District Hospital, Matabeleland South Province, Zimbabwe- Picture by Lungelo Ndhlovu

By Lungelo Ndhlovu

Renewables such as solar, hydro, gas (bio-gas) will power Africa’s energy future, but the spread of coal’s usage is still rising, energy experts worry.

The rise of fossil fuels as a major threat to human wellbeing and safety was reflected in last month’s 2020 Global Risks Report from the World Economic Forum which for the first time, saw environmental dangers fill the top five places on the list.

Weapons of mass destruction used to feature highly but now classed as much less likely thanks in part to nuclear non-proliferation treaties. Now the fossil fuel driven climate crisis which disproportionately affects Africans is listed as the world’s major threat.

“African countries investing in fossil fuels risk creating stranded assets and an unmanaged and disorderly transition from fossil fuels. We can either intentionally develop new ways to meet our energy need without increasing our emissions or altogether lose the window of opportunity to ensure a safe climate and sustainable future,” said Mohamed Adow, Director of climate and energy think tank, Power Shift Africa.

Adow added, “That’s why African civil society are calling for African states and institutions to take a lead in the creation of a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty in order to advance the interests of our continent and its people.”

Ahead of this week’s African Union meeting scheduled for the 9-10^th February 2020, more than 25 organisations networks and community resistance groups from Africa and around the world have called on African governments to prevent the proliferation of coal, oil and gas in Africa, to ensure efforts to address fossil fuels.

The communication was signed by the group criticised the deliberate proliferation of coal, oil and gas in Africa, contrary to scientific evidence and highlighted the contradiction between planned fossil fuel expansion and globally agreed climate targets.

They also condemned the way some Africa governments were avoiding scrutiny from civil society groups and even violently targeting environmental activists and human rights defenders in some places.

Representatives from  different Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) group who attended an Africa Energy Leaders’ Summit on Climate Change, Energy and Energy Finance in Addis Ababa last week included MELCA-Ethiopia, Oil Change Africa, Health Mother Earth Foundation, Oxfam, Friends of the Earth, the deCOALonize Campaign and Power Shift Africa.

Omar Elmawi, Coordinator for the deCOALonize Campaign said, “The abundance of renewable energy like wind, solar and geothermal make it possible for Africa to leapfrog dirty fossil fuels like coal that countries in the west had to rely on for their development,” said.

According to Elmawi, coal and other fossil fuels has lost the war to renewable energy on both environmental and economic grounds. It’s the reason developed countries including China are now shutting their coal plants in favour of clean energy.

“That is why Africa should tap into its vast renewable energy resources that can power the continent without harming its people or the environment,” he added.

Energy experts claim, Africa has long been pillaged and exploited for its resources with little benefit to its people.

“Now, as the world embraces the energy transition away from fossil fuels to low-carbon solutions, there is potential to disrupt existing power dynamics. It’s high time the continent’s renewable energy potential benefitted ordinary people,” said Nthabiseng Matsoha, Earthlife Africa’s Researcher and Energy Policy Officer.

“This is especially important as we move towards a ‘just transition’ to a decarbonised world. Community ownership models should be explored, to not only benefit power.

Ms Diana Nabiruma from Uganda’s Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO), some countries kill, intimidate and enact repressive laws and restrictions that make it hard for environmental activists to do their work.

This is dangerous as shutting down environmental activists puts environmental conservation, climate change mitigation and community livelihoods at risk.” she said.

According to Francesca de Gasparis, Executive Director of the Southern Africa Faith Communities Environmental Institute, (SAFCEI) as a continent, the opportunities for Africa to create community-centred, accessible, affordable and clean energy are immense.

“Yet we find our leaders signing up to expensive and environmentally devastating fossil fuel and nuclear energy projects that will bring few benefits to their people and will maintain vast inequality.

“We are appealing to the African Union to take a visionary stance and use its collective weight and influence for the benefit of all and to address the climate crisis in a decisive rejection of fossil fuel extraction,” she said.

Alvin Munyasia from Oxfam International said, “All coal must end immediately and all other fossil fuels phased out by 2050-with rich countries ditching them fastest to limit global heating of 1.5 degrees.”

“Any natural gas or other fossil fuels must require strong environmental and social diligence measures and only if there is clear benefits of poor people, such as funding for essential services or clean energy access provision.

Any such fossil fuels should be in the short-term, if there are no viable clean  alternatives, and must be part of eventual phase-outs of low carbon energy. No new coal power plants should be built everywhere, and the last existing plant needs to be closed in wealthy countries at the very latest by 2030 and in all countries by 2040,” she added.

Ends//