Target 2030: Reinforcing the Africa-Europe Energy Partnership

COP 26 is a make-or-break milestone for global climate and energy action. The moment presents a unique opportunity to accelerate efforts towards 2030 and integrate shared efforts to open a new chapter of the Africa-Europe energy partnership, especially through an innovative Africa-Europe Climate Alliance. It is time to build a new foundation for Africa-Europe relations and reinforcing our energy partnership should be a central plank for this. Now is the time to reboot political and financial leadership for delivering energy access and clean cooking solutions, and to improve the regulatory environment to offer investors a long-term credible policy framework. Both Africa and Europe also share a strong common interest in research and technology development to ensure grid stability in terms of base-load generation and distribution, as well as a big expansion in capacity to enable widespread electrification, facilitate the intake of renewables, and the deployment of off-grid solutions.

Questions will include:

• How can government, business and civil society across Africa and Europe work together throughout this last Decade of Action to achieve the SDG 7 and advance a common agenda in the leadup of the Africa-Europe Summit and COP 27?
• What are the difficulties and potential obstacles in attracting investments to accelerate the race to universal access to energy in Africa and towards net-zero in Europe?
• How can Africa and Europe work together and develop country-to-country partnership to achieve ambitious climate and energy targets?