Power Up campaign team calls for investment in green energy

Power Up campaign team wants more funding made available towards affordable energy to mitigate the growing burden of climate change.

This comes ahead of the COP27 climate talks expected to take place in Egypt next month.

The campaign calls for wealthy nations to greatly increase climate adaptation funding, and to ensure a significant share of this funding supports access to green, affordable energy for people facing climate catastrophe.

The campaign seeks to build public support for action and back African policymakers to pursue the goal of increasing total climate adaptation funding at COP27 and beyond.

The African Development Bank reports an annual energy finance gap for the continent of Sh250 billion.

The campaign will initially focus on five African countries; Kenya, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Tanzania with the potential to expand its focus on countries worldwide affected by energy poverty by 2023.

“More finance must flow from nations responsible for the climate crisis to those in the greatest danger and money already promised must be delivered,” ENERGIA Network director Sheila Oparaocha has said.

“Using adaptation funding to widen access to sustainable and affordable energy will ensure African communities are better prepared for the challenges ahead.” 

Data shows that more than 600 million Africans go without access to electricity, and more than 900 million don't have safe cooking facilities.

This is a hindrance to development and has stopped communities from adapting to the threats posed by climate change.

Experts have said solar water pumps can make Africa’s agricultural land more resilient and productive yet, just seven per cent is irrigated.

Establishing cold chains equivalent to wealthy nations would raise countries’ food supplies by 15 per cent while powering up will help health services respond to health challenges.

Data shows that 60 per cent of clinics in Africa lack access to electricity.

Powering up is also expected to improve digital connectivity for education and information, including early warning of natural disasters.

“I know the power of green, affordable energy to change lives. But organisations like mine need much more support to scale up our work. We’re playing our part,” Innocent Tshilombo said.

Tshilombo is the co-founder and managing director at Kamuma Ventures, one of the growing list of frontline organisations backing the Power Up campaign.

“In communities where the need is greatest now, politicians and global funders must step up. The more people back Power Up, the louder the call for action,” Tshilombo said.

Kakuma Ventures is bringing solar-powered Wi-Fi to Kakuma, one of the world’s largest refugee camps and supporting skills and entrepreneurship.

Power Up is uniting and amplifying African voices in pursuit of climate justice, including organisations powering up communities most affected by energy poverty.

The members are now calling on NGOs, businesses, civil society organisations, faith groups and other organisations to join and back the campaign.

Edited by Kiilu Damaris