Renewable energy in Africa

Africa’s eco history is fairly brief, and energy issues to this day remain mainly focused on the lack of supply, and not on consumption, as is the case with the rest of the world. Africa is the second most populous continent in the world, accounting for 13% of the world’s population, and although carbon emissions are 3 times more than in 1950, Africa’s emissions are low in both absolute and per capita terms, making up a mere 3.6% of the world’s total carbon emissions.

Although this is an optimistic statistic, the reasons for it are not quite so cheerful. Underdevelopment, poor infrastructure and low economies are responsible for this ambivalent accomplishment. Fortunately, developing African nations are popluar locations for renewable energy applications, and many African countries already have small-scale solar energy, wind energy, and geothermal projects, which provide both urban and rural populations with energy. The installation of renewable energy sources is especially useful in remote rural areas, to which transportation of energy is not only difficult, but also very expensive.

Poverty, corruption, and improper governance are what the continent has to deal with now in order to improve the life standard of its citizens, while staying in line with its responsibilities to the earth with the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Fortunately, there are those in Africa, who believe in both these causes, and despite often violent opposition from governments and corporations, are managing to make the face of the African continent a greener place. Special mention must be made of Wangari Maathai, who founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977. The Green Belt Movement takes a holistic approach to development, by focusing not only on environmental development, but also on community building. Since Maathai started this movement, over 30 million trees have been planted across Africa.