Financial flow for clean energy development in developing countries hits $12bn
By Eyo Nsima
Director, UNDP Rome, Centre for Sustainable Development, Musonda Mumba has disclosed that the Global financial flow for the development of clean energy in developing nations has risen to $12 billion.
Mumba spoke at a webinar session with the theme: “Energy-Development nexus: Towards a people-centered approach” organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, Chair on Energy for Sustainable Development at the Politecnico Di Milano, in Milan, Italy, said over 759 million people are still without access to electricity.
He said: “We have seen the investments in renewable capacity increased by two percent to $303 billion in 2020.”
He also said: “Energy issue in Africa, particularly around cooking is a matter of life and death”, pointing out that the interconnectivity of the development with other sectors and other critical challenges, especially deforestation and pollution underpinned the need to prioritize initiatives for lasting solutions. We need better thinking around cooking energy.”
He also said: “Africa is a young continent. The average age on the African continent is 19 years old it’s a no-brainer. Can we start rethinking how universities are designing training around energy that is very fit for purpose and relevant to the spaces? We need to look at how universities are looking at sensitization to young people and also providing platforms to share knowledge.”
Similarly, Chairholder, UNESCO, Chair on Energy for Sustainable Development at the Politecnico Di Milano, Emmanuela Colombo disclosed that there was a need for Africans to design or get involved in designing a tailored solution to the energy challenges on the continent.
However, Consultant and Faculty Member, Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law, University of Ibadan, Temilade Sesan, stressed the need to factor gender-based realities in designing energy solutions noted that strengthening the physical linkages between rural and urban communities remained critical to addressing energy issues.
