Closing infrastructure funding gap critical to help Africa meet climate goals: AU official

Closing the infrastructure funding gap and scaling up renewable energy investments are critical to help African countries meet climate goals, a senior African Union (AU) official has said.

Speaking at a press conference late Thursday, Amani Abou-Zeid, AU commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, said Africa faces significant infrastructure deficits that hinder economic growth and development in the continent.

"Meeting the continent's infrastructure needs requires scaling up investment in sectors such as transport, energy and digital technologies," the commissioner said, adding these sectors are also crucial for Africa's transition to clean energy and sustainable development.

She said the AU wants to ensure the specific needs and circumstances of African nations are represented in global climate discussions and agreements.

According to the commissioner, energy access in Africa remains low, with more than 600 million people lacking access to electricity.

"Africa's growing energy demand while transitioning to renewable sources is critical for powering economic growth, creating jobs, and improving livelihoods," Abou-Zeid said.

Internet penetration in Africa is the lowest in the world, standing at under 50 present, a press release from her office has indicated, highlighting that Africa has faced infrastructure deficits in areas like broadband networks and undersea cables that constrain digital development.

She said African leaders will highlight the need for increased investment and technology transfer to accelerate the renewable energy transition in Africa at the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

"African leaders will call for partnerships at COP28 to build digital infrastructure and expand connectivity across the continent. This will enable Africa to harness digital technologies for climate action and sustainable development," said the AU official.

At COP28 which will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) next week, Africa will seek partnerships and investment from the international community to scale up programs that can close Africa's infrastructure gaps, expand access to clean energy, and boost digital connectivity, she said. "These efforts aim to position Africa for green growth while enabling the continent to adapt to the impacts of climate change," Abou-Zeid added.