SEPTEMBER 21, 2023
The Africa Climate Energy and Development Programme (ACED) initiative represents a comprehensive effort to harness the continent’s vast renewable energy potential while steering away from fossil fuel dependency. Launched by Mohamed Adow (Awardee 2020) through the Climate Breakthrough Award program, this initiative seeks to provide electricity access to hundreds of millions of people and catalyze an African-led just transition.
The Challenge
Africa is the most affected, yet least responsible for climate change. Despite its abundance of renewable energy resources, the continent faces significant hurdles in its transition to clean energy as the fossil fuel industry continues to exert considerable influence. Recent discoveries of new fossil fuel deposits, according to industry players, have led to projections of natural gas production expanding by almost 80% by 2035. This threatens to lock African countries into soon-to-be stranded assets and more foreign debt.
Adding to these challenges, many African leaders still view large-scale fossil fuel projects as symbols of progress and development, while considering renewable energy as merely suitable for small-scale needs. The pace of renewable energy adoption remains concerningly slow, with fossil fuel investments still outpacing renewables in absolute terms. The situation is further complicated by weak institutional capacity in many countries and insufficient access to affordable financing for renewable energy projects.
The Initiative
ACED’s approach is built around a number of strategic pillars, including strengthened civil society campaigns, technical expertise development, and policy engagement with African governments. The initiative seeks to establish an African Expert Group and Network, comprising skilled professionals in technical, economic, and environmental aspects of climate and energy development.
A key component of the initiative is the creation of an African Energy Watch, designed to monitor companies, projects, and foreign investments in the renewable energy sector. This watchdog function will ensure that renewable energy development aligns with human rights and environmental safeguards while preventing undue influence from vested interests.
The program also emphasizes practical implementation through country-level initiatives. ACED will work with “frontrunner countries” to develop specific renewable energy plans and regulatory frameworks, creating models that can be shared across the continent. These efforts will be supported by a comprehensive communications platform and web portal to share knowledge and best practices.
The Vision
ACED’s ultimate goal is to position Africa as the first continent to achieve 100% renewable energy usage. This ambitious initiative wants to demonstrate that universal energy access and climate goals can be achieved simultaneously through a rapid, just transition away from fossil fuels.
Success will be measured not just in renewable energy adoption rates, but in the creation of sustainable, people-centered energy systems that benefit local communities and economies. With renewable energy costs continuing to fall, with studies indicate it would be cheaper to replace 60% of the world’s coal plants with solar or wind than to continue operating them, the economic case for this transition grows stronger by the day.
ACED represents a bold attempt to rewrite Africa’s energy future, moving away from the extractive models of the past toward a more sustainable and equitable system. This initiative could provide a blueprint for other regions grappling with similar challenges in the global transition to renewable energy.