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36 Low-carbon Africa: leapfrogging to a green future Policy recommendations
Christian Aid argues that Africa should get its fair share of
mitigation finance through a special dedicated ‘window’
(ear-marked funding stream) to enable it to meet its energy
requirements, not just at levels that fulfil basic human
needs, but that enable the poor to develop cleanly.
The support that developed countries have pledged so far
(US$10bn per year, with a goal of mobilising US$100bn
per year by 2020) was not linked to the actual needs of
developing countries, but to the political constraints of
developed countries, and there is no assurance whatsoever
that developed countries will meet their emissions
reductions obligations. If global warming is to be limited to
below 1.5°C as demanded by the poorest countries then
urgent international action is necessary to deliver the level of
emissions reductions required to achieve this.
Christian Aid believes that is what is needed to address
energy poverty and also stop poor nations from joining the
league of big polluters as they enjoy rapid economic growth.
Africa must continue to argue in a forceful and principled
manner that even US$100bn would very likely be an entirely
inadequate sum. This is and has always been a figure
produced for political reasons, rather than one based on any
robust (or even plausible) analysis.
Developed countries need to commit to deliver
sufficient financing to developing countries that will
be delivered through a special dedicated window
under the Green Climate Fund, with democratic
and equitable governance, that will enable African
countries and other developing countries to pursue
energy access and sustainable development through
a clean development model. This should be a leapfrog
fund for low-carbon energy access.