President William Ruto has urged African countries to speed up the shift to renewable energy, saying clean energy has the power to transform the continent’s future.
Speaking at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa during a meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), Ruto said moving from fossil fuels to renewable energy is the key to solving both climate change and energy shortages.
He said Africa has huge amounts of solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy that remain mostly untapped.
Despite this, Africa produces only a small share of the world’s renewable energy, even though demand is high.
Ruto said this gap must be closed quickly because renewable energy is not just good for the environment but can also drive economic growth and industrial progress.
He pointed out that millions of people in Africa still live without electricity, which slows down development.
Renewable energy can change this by providing affordable and reliable power to people who have never had access before.
Solar mini-grids and home systems are already making a difference in rural areas by powering schools, clinics, and small businesses.
These solutions improve daily life while reducing dependence on expensive and polluting diesel generators.
Ruto also spoke about the economic benefits of expanding renewable energy.
He said it can create jobs in manufacturing, installation, and maintenance. Investing in clean energy can help local economies grow while reducing the need to import costly fossil fuels.
He added that renewable energy projects can bring in private sector investments and partnerships that lead to innovation.
He praised Africa’s efforts to push forward climate action through initiatives like the Nairobi Declaration and the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative.
These plans aim to increase the continent’s renewable energy production and promote industries that use Africa’s resources wisely.
He also welcomed support from international partners and called for more global investment in Africa’s clean energy sector.
Right now, Africa gets only a small share of global renewable energy funding, even though it has plenty of resources to develop.
Ruto pointed to Kenya’s success as an example for other African nations. Kenya already gets most of its electricity from renewable sources and plans to add even more.
This shows that clean energy can help build strong economies while also protecting the environment.
He encouraged other African countries to create their own plans based on the resources they have.
He proposed hosting another African Climate Summitlater this year to keep the momentum going and to bring African nations together.
He also said the global financial system needs to change to give developing countries better access to climate funding.
Ruto’s message was clear: Africa has everything it needs to lead the way in clean energy.
By using its natural resources and working together, the continent can reduce energy poverty, grow its economy, and become a major player in the global shift to renewable energy.
