By Adedapo Adesanya
The former United Nations (UN) climate envoy, Ms Mary Robinson, has advised African countries to exploit their vast natural gas reserves amid an urgent need to cut global greenhouse gas emissions.
Ms Robinson, the chair of the Elders group of former world statespeople and business leaders, said African nation’s need for energy was so great that they should use gas widely.
This assertion is in contrast to developed countries’ position that they must halt their gas use as quickly as possible to stave off climate breakdown.
Speaking to the Guardian UK in an interview, she said, “Africa is trying to get its voice out about its needs for just, equitable energy, and of course, that implies some use of gas as a just transition.”
She pointed to the 600 million people in Africa without access to electricity and the 900 million who use biomass or dirty oil cooking stoves, who could use gas as a less polluting alternative.
“There has to be a certain leeway to tackle the energy poverty in Africa, and give Africa a faster capability to move,” she said.
She said European countries and the United States, which are still heavily reliant on fossil fuels, had no basis on which to advise African countries to leave their reserves alone.
African leaders will bring forward similar arguments ahead of COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh in November, which is certain to make the issue a flashpoint at the UN climate summit that is seen as a chance for African countries to gain global attention for their vulnerability to the climate crisis, and their economic potential.
While some back the idea that African gas can be exploited while the European Union and developed countries find green alternatives, others see an African dash for gas as a potential disaster.
With gas prices high and likely to remain so, and with most of Africa’s potential reserves owned or licensed by foreign companies, it would be difficult to keep African gas on the continent, rather than sell to the highest bidder.
Proponents like Nigeria have instead called for a smooth transition to achieve zero per cent emission within 30 years meaning that 90 per cent of our source of energy has to come from renewables.
Modupe Gbadeyanka