Southern African leaders and energy experts have convened in Botswana, committing to a sweeping overhaul of the region’s energy landscape, with a firm focus on expanding access while simultaneously addressing the looming threat of climate change. The summit, attended by over 500 delegates from 16 Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states, underscored the urgent need to transition away from coal, the region’s dominant energy source and a major contributor to global warming.
A central resolution emerging from the summit was the commitment to a “just energy transition,” ensuring that the shift towards cleaner energy leaves no one behind. Moses Ntlamelle, a senior SADC programs officer, emphasized the need to “expedite” the move towards renewable energy while fostering a regional market that prioritizes inclusivity.
Botswana’s President, Duma Boko, articulated the region’s shared challenge of “energy poverty,” a condition that he argued is stifling economic growth and depriving millions, particularly in rural areas, of essential services. “A clarion call for an energy-secure region is, therefore, urgent to drive industrialization and integration of our economies,” Boko stated.
With coal dominating the energy mix, Boko urged a decisive break from fossil fuels and an acceleration of the shift towards green energy. “We should incentivize renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects and initiatives, enforce environmental protections, and establish clear roadmaps for a just and equitable energy transition,” he declared, calling for “tangible targets” to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and increase renewable energy use.
Yunus Alokore, a technical expert at the East Africa Center for Renewable Energy and Efficiency, highlighted the critical factors necessary for a successful transition. He stressed the importance of robust “policies and regulatory framework” to create a stable environment for investors and development partners. Access to finance, he further emphasized, is paramount to driving the required investment in renewable energy infrastructure.
The energy summit provided a clear indication that The SADC region is attempting to address the world’s concern on climate change, while at the same time working to provide energy to its residents. This will be a complex and long-running process.
