2023-11-29 23:02:53
COP28 opens today in Dubai. A COP of which one of the challenges will be to include or not the exit from fossil fuels. In Africa, the situation varies depending on the country: whether they are producers, with ongoing projects or others which are not producing. Diverging interests therefore… However, it seems that many find themselves on a common line: a supported energy transition.
All highlight Africa’s small share of global greenhouse gas emissions and the continent’s enormous energy needs. Emmanuel Seck is the director of the NGO Enda Energie in Senegal, also a negotiator at the COP.
« We are in this process where we say to ourselves that we must stop the fossil fuel, for us I think that it would still be unfair. This is why we talk regarding transition. For the finances that would arise, for example, from the exploitation of gas, this must give us better options to move towards the promotion of renewable energies. »
The States are not once morest the transition, assures Tosi Mpanu Mpanu, the Congolese mediator. But it is a path that has a cost: “ We have the possibility of using certain extractive industries as levers for growth and simply ignoring this opportunity to try to save the planet is not attractive enough. So we really need to be given some sort of compensation in relation to the opportunity cost so that it serves as a sufficient incentive for us to be able to move in one direction to decarbonize our economies. ».
Expectations from African States
Scalded by the broken promise of $100 billion in climate financing from rich countries, African states are waiting for compensation: a functional climate finance system in exchange for the non-exploitation of their resources. International NGOs support their request, assures Marine Pouget of the Climate Action Network.
« Our message is to tell them that their request is completely legitimate. We remember that they still have enormous potential in renewable energies, that it is extremely underfunded by developed countries for the moment and therefore they must also really fight on this side : “We have a lot of renewable resources, so why aren’t you going to invest in that rather than continuing to invest meagerly in general in our energy transition.” »
International NGOs also point out that in many countries, the exploitation of fossil fuels has benefited populations very little. Emmanuel Seck confirms vigilance on this subject.
« As far as Senegal is concerned, we would like to learn and look at the countries that have been able to use these resources wisely, how to have more inclusive governance of these resources with the communities, the different stakeholders so that the benefits have beneficial impacts for populations. »
The discussions in Dubai therefore promise to be tough in this major producing country, where this year once more the oil lobbies should be very numerous.
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