Africa must define its own path in the global green transition, taking into account the continent’s development needs rather than simply following narratives shaped elsewhere, Prof
The report indicates that africa must define its own path in the global green transition, taking into account the continent’s development needs rather than simply following narratives shaped elsewhere, Professor Fatima Denton, Director of the United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA), has said.
It further notes that she stated Africa’s green transition could not be reduced to achieving net-zero emissions when about 600 million people on the continent still lacked access to electricity.
According to Prof Denton, Africa must simultaneously expand energy access, create jobs and drive economic development while responding to the global push for decarbonisation.
She made the remarks in Accra at the 8th Kwapong Lecture Series, where she delivered a lecture on the theme, “The Age of Contradictions: Reflections on Power, Narratives and Green Transitions.”
The lecture was co-hosted by UNU-INRA and the University of Ghana.
Prof Denton stated Africa needed to move beyond the language of “transition” and focus on a long-term transformation that reflected the continent’s realities and aspirations.
She argued that African countries should strategically harness their natural resources to promote inclusive growth rather than sideline them in response to global energy-transition narratives.
“We need a narrative that recognises the importance of Africa’s resources to the global economy,” she said.
She also called for greater confidence among African countries in defining their own development pathways.
Prof Denton questioned the assumption that African countries could simply leapfrog conventional stages of development through the adoption of new technologies.
“Leapfrogging is good, but do we have the space to land comfortably?” she asked.
She stated technological innovation alone would not guarantee development, stressing the need for strong institutions, sound economic systems and robust social foundations to ensure that new technologies delivered tangible benefits.
Prof Denton stated the global push towards low-carbon economies was marked by a number of contradictions.
While countries continue to pursue decarbonisation, she noted that demand for oil and gas remains strong and production continues in industrialised economies, including major European producers.
