Nairobi, 18 November, 2022: ACCESS Coalition called for a just energy transition that is people-centered and protects the environment during the COP 27 Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. This will ensure clean energy access for all, especially in Africa. It includes advocating for increased investment in renewable technologies, regulations and systems that incorporate the welfare of communities.

Kenya and other African countries continue to suffer severe effects of climate change such as droughts and floods, yet the continent accounts for less than four percent of the world’s energy-related CO2 emissions and has the lowest emissions per capita globally.

Currently, about 43 percent of Africa’s population don’t have access to electricity, and about 900 million don’t have access to clean cooking fuels and technologies (Africa Energy Outlook 2022).

Energy access is essential in achieving the sustainable development goals and economic growth of any society. It is key in accelerating Africa’s manufacturing and industrialization sectors, creating employment and boosting intra-African trade due to increased interconnectivity.

It is for this reason that ACCESS Coalition welcomes the launch of the Africa Just and Affordable Energy Transition Initiative (AJAETI) by the COP 27 Presidency. The initiative aims to secure access to affordable energy and transition 300 million people to clean cooking fuels and technologies, and increase the share of renewable electricity generation by 25 percent in Africa, by 2027.

John Kioli, the chairman of ACCESS Coalition echoed the words of UN Secretary General António Guterres that, we must leave the conference with the creation of a Loss and Damage fund. “We must concretize it with additional and ambitious funding. Petroleum companies must be able to share their huge profits towards climate change action. This COP27 must amplify the work of Glasgow COP 26 and roll out implementation. The time is now. The language should now be, face out fossil fuels,” Kioli said.

ACCESS Coalition’ priorities for COP 27 conference were anchored in the organization’s commitments to the UN Energy Compact, a global roadmap for accelerated SDG7 action by different players who are working to deliver energy access and efficiency, clean cooking, a just energy transition, finance and investment.

ACCESS showcased the progress of these commitments during a side event at the SDG7 pavilion during the COP 27 conference. ACCESS committed by 2030, to support 10 energy-deficit countries to use inclusive, integrated planning approaches that are supported by better data on energy needs, to deliver financially, socially and environmentally sustainable energy services that leave no one behind.

In addition, ACCESS committed by 2030 to successfully advocate for three Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to commit at least 50 percent of their energy portfolio to decentralized renewable energy and ensure participation of communities and civil societies in decision-making and implementation of their projects so as to enhance productive uses of energy.

The third target was, by 2025, to facilitate capacity building and knowledge exchange on energy access and share best practices among civil society organizations across 20 energy access-deficit countries.

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About ACCESS Coalition

Alliance of Civil Society Organizations for Clean Energy Access (ACCESS Coalition) is a global coalition of more than 100 organizations working at local, national, regional and international levels, advocating for people living in poverty to have access to safe, reliable and affordable energy. ACCESS aims to strengthen the efforts of CSOs working to deliver universal energy access and has three regional nodes in Africa; Kenya Climate Change Working Group (East Africa), Strategic Youth Network for Development (West Africa) and Action 24 (Southern Africa).

Media Contact:

Florence Gichoya – communications@access-coalition.org