NEW YORK, MAY 4 – “A Just and Inclusive Sustainable Energy Transition in Africa”: a virtual side event co-organized by the Missions of Italy, South Africa and Ghana, and by the UN Office of the Special Advisor on Africa, allowed today a fruitful exchange of ideas and experiences so to reinforce synergies and renew partnerships between African Countries and non-state actors for technological and innovative solutions.
Africa is a continent in continuous transformation, with a sustained economic and population growth, a fast-paced urbanization and a young generation of talents who is leading its business revolution. This transformation requires energy and will require it even more in the next decades. Considering the current energy challenges in Africa, what are possible pathways to an accelerated clean energy transition to bridge the gap in access to clean modern energy in the next decade? Also, given the limitation in financial resources and infrastructures, what are the most viable technologies to concentrate on, especially considering that many of the renewable technologies require existing, robust grids? These are among the questions that were examined during the event.
The Italian Permanent Representative, Ambassador Maurizio Massari, opened the meeting, giving then the floor to the Undersecretary General, Cristina Duarte, Special UN Representative for Africa, and to the Ambassador of Ghana, Harold Adlay Agyeman. Among the panelist were Francesco La Camera, Director General of IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency), and Roberto Vigotti, Secretary General of the RES4Africa Foundation. (@OnuItalia)
