Publications
Topic: Africa (3 Articles)
June 2024
In 2022, for the first time in many decades, the number of people in the world without access to electricity increased. The effects of the coronavirus pandemic coupled with high energy prices have taken their toll, and globally the number of people without access to electricity has increased by about 20 million to a total of 774 million people. Africa is still among the hardest hit continents in terms of access to energy. Could renewable energy be the solution to wider energy access in Africa?
January 2022
The Kingdom of Morocco's approach to renewable energy sources (RES) is exemplary, especially thanks to its solar projects, some of which are among the largest in the world. Renewables account for about two-fifths of all installed electricity generation capacity, and the kingdom is globally lauded for its steps towards decarbonisation. At the same time, Morocco covers up to 90% of its energy needs by importing fossil fuels, mainly coal and oil, from third countries, which ranks it first in North Africa. In order to ensure the country's energy security and reduce dependence on imports, Morocco plans to continue investing in renewable sources, planning to be the leader of renewable energy deployment in the MENA region.
November 2021
Climate change affects almost every country in the world, and the MENA region, which includes the Middle East and North Africa, is no exception. On the contrary, the states in this region are among the driest in the world. More than 60% of their population lives in areas with high or very high surface water scarcity. According to Ferid Belhaj, the World Bank's vice president for the MENA region, by 2050 water scarcity in the region, mainly related to climate change, will be responsible for economic losses equivalent to 6 to 14% of GNP. What does it take to solve the water crisis in the region?