The global pressure to adopt a renewable-only stance is inevitably creating more pressure
on Development Finance Institutions, Multilateral Development Banks and Bilateral
Development Agencies to consider this position. While some African countries have the
renewable energy resources to support such a transition, many do not and will still have to
rely on fossil fuel sources in the interim.
In this session we explore the implications of such a change on Africa’s ability to achieve
its development objectives and learn from Carlos Pimenta’s energy and climate journey,
from being Portugal’s youngest Secretary of State for the Environment, to leading EU
negotiations for the Kyoto Protocol, becoming the Chairman of a Renewable Energy
Investment Fund.
The global pressure to adopt a renewable-only stance is inevitably creating more pressure
on Development Finance Institutions, Multilateral Development Banks and Bilateral
Development Agencies to consider this position. While some African countries have the
renewable energy resources to support such a transition, many do not and will still have to
rely on fossil fuel sources in the interim.
In this session we explore the implications of such a change on Africa’s ability to achieve
its development objectives and learn from Carlos Pimenta’s energy and climate journey,
from being Portugal’s youngest Secretary of State for the Environment, to leading EU
negotiations for the Kyoto Protocol, becoming the Chairman of a Renewable Energy
Investment Fund.
Africa is a continent with boundless potential – it has the natural resources, the population
and the land mass to become a major player on the global stage. Why then, is the gap
between Africa and the rest of the world increasing? What needs to be done to unleash
Africa’s potential and ignite a growth revolution?
To discuss these and other questions, The Economic Club of Nairobi hosted Prof. Laundry Signe and Dr. Jakkie
Cilliers to discuss how Africa’s potential can be unlocked to achieve an Africa First Scenario.
The discussion was based on their new books “Unlocking Africa’s Business Potential” and “Africa First! – Igniting a Growth Revolution respectively."