George Asamani, MD, Project Management Institute, Sub-Saharan Africa considers the steps needed to transition to clean energy responsibly.
Africa stands at a pivotal juncture, urged to decarbonise for the planets sake even as it struggles to power its own growth. With 600 million people still lacking access to electricity, and coal providing cheap, reliable energy, the continent faces a significant paradox: the green transition is critical to global climate goals, but for Africa, it could come at a substantial cost.
The International Energy Agency warns that under net-zero pathways, about 13 million fossil-fuel jobs could disappear globally even as 30 million new clean-energy roles emerge by 2030. The catch is that most of those new jobs will be created in countries that already manufacture and install renewable-energy technologies. In much of Africa, where local production and technical training remain limited, job losses could easily outpace early gains.