Africa Must Seize Opportunities in EU-China Climate Alliances to Achieve Green Development Ambitions

Strategic Insights -

Africa has a vital role to play in the face of America's climate commitment reversals, and it can make the most of its solid partnerships with Europe and China. A new France-China initiative serves as the vanguard of a broader European Union (EU)-China partnership on climate change, and Africa must be proactive in its relationships with the EU and China to become a net beneficiary. Strong relationships with the EU and China already exist, with the Africa-EU Green Energy Initiative aiming to generate 50,000MW of new renewables by 2030 and benefiting 100 million people in Africa.

Key Takeaways:

  • China appears to have surpassed its emissions peak target in 2025, originally scheduled for 2030, and is on track to achieve its net zero target by 2060 or possibly earlier.
  • China is the leading global supplier of renewable energy and has made significant strides in energy transition, especially on the roll-out of renewable energy and electric vehicles.
  • Africa continues to experience regular climate catastrophes, despite its minuscule contributions to greenhouse gas emissions, and needs to address its energy deficit of 80% of the global energy deficit.
  • The Africa-EU Green Energy Initiative aims to generate 50,000MW of new renewables by 2030 to benefit 100 million people in Africa.
  • China has pledged €150-million for energy infrastructure projects in Africa as part of the EU-Africa Global Gateway Investment Package.
  • African and Chinese ministers have met to assess outcomes from the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (Focac) Summit, with Chinese enterprises partnering in African clean energy projects to the tune of $2.94-billion.
  • Africa must be assertive and proactive in its relationships with the EU and China, and should lead in the further roll-out of the Focac Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027) to promote its green development ambitions.

Statistics:

  • Africa's energy deficit is 80% of the global energy deficit (World Resources Institute).
  • Africa received only 2% of global renewable energy investment in 2022.
  • The Africa-EU Green Energy Initiative aims to generate 50,000MW of new renewables by 2030.
  • China has $66-million worth of renewable energy foreign direct investments and activity in Africa since 2010.
  • Chinese enterprises are partnering in African clean energy projects to the tune of $2.94-billion (Focac Summit progress report).
  • Africa's total external debt stands at about 24.5% of combined gross domestic product, totalling $685.5-billion, with debt servicing projected to cost $88.7-billion in 2025.

Sources:

  • World Economic Forum
  • World Resources Institute
  • Africa-EU Green Energy Initiative
  • Focac Summit progress report
  • Institute for Security Studies (ISS)
  • DM Dhesigen Naidoo, research associate, Climate Risk and Human Security Project, ISS
  • Paris Agreement