African parliamentarians, led by Nigerian Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, have urged G7 nations to increase their support for African countries struggling with the financial and technological challenges of combating climate change and harnessing renewable energy.
In a letter addressed to G7 leaders through Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, host of the 2024 G7 Summit held from June 13 to 15, 50 African MPs highlighted Africa’s crucial role in achieving the Paris Agreement’s 1.5℃ limit, noting the continent’s vast renewable energy potential.
Despite this potential, the MPs stressed that Africa lacks the necessary financial resources and technology to convert its raw potential into energy.
They criticized the disparity in climate change financing, pointing out that Africa received only 0.8% of the USD 495 billion invested in renewable energy globally from 2000 to 2020 and has attracted just 2% of global renewable investments.
This, they argued, is unjust given that the climate crisis was primarily caused by industrialized nations.
Senator Abaribe emphasized the moral responsibility of developed countries to address these disparities, citing their historic contributions to the climate crisis.
“It is not only a moral responsibility of the G7 to lend its voice to a restructuring of the international financial architecture… it is indeed the just thing to do,” he stated, criticizing the allocation of billions of dollars to wars while neglecting climate prevention.
Egyptian MP Sahar Al Bazar echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that such support is essential for sustainable development, economic stability, and addressing Africa’s energy challenges.
The MPs made three key requests to the G7: support for debt forgiveness for African countries, assistance in reforming the financial systems burdening these nations, and fulfilling their climate and finance commitments to developing countries.
They urged the G7 to lead the global energy transition by committing to stricter climate plans and unlocking funds for poorer nations, asserting that it is in the G7’s interest to invest in Africa’s energy potential.
The African MPs also reaffirmed their commitment to the energy transition by including provisions for clean energy financing in their national budgets.
The 50th G7 meeting in Fasano, Apulia, Italy, concluded with a commitment to launch the “Energy for Growth in Africa” initiative, signaling the G7’s recognition of Africa’s energy potential.
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