Powering Adaptation and Justice: The Critical Role of Decentralized Renewable Energy Systems

Posted on 27 November 2023

Date: 2 December, 2023
Venue: WWF-Pavilion (Blue Zone)
Time: 12:30 p.m. -1:30 p.m.
Lead organizers: WWF, GOGLA
Contact Persons: Jacqueline Kimeu(WWF), Thomas Opande (WWF) and Patrick Tonui (GOGLA)

Background and Context
Energy is an enabler of several Adaptation Agenda goals, including the expansion of sustainable irrigation, increasing crop yields through climate-resilient, sustainable agriculture, halving losses in food production, providing basic and essential community services and enabling access to the tools and information required to integrate climate risks into decision making. The latest IPCC adaptation and vulnerability report recognized that there was strong evidence of the role of Decentralized Renewable Energy in reducing vulnerability to climate change, especially among rural populations. Despite its contribution to adaptation, it is estimated that 70-80 percent of people without access to clean and renewable energy reside in Africa as this remains a significant obstacle to socioeconomic /resilience building in the region. Further, the connection between energy, food, and climate is evident in the prevalent use of wood fuel for industrial and household energy needs, posing a major hindrance to building resilience against climate shocks and allowing communities and small businesses to thrive in remote and impoverished areas. It is crucial to have efficient, sustainable, and affordable energy solutions for cooking, lighting, cooling, health, and other productive purposes in order to alleviate poverty, reduce food loss, and combat climate change in the region.

Goals and objective of the event
This side-event will be an opportunity to harness collaboration amongst partners to promote renewable energy solutions for adaptation in Africa. The event will highlight the findings of a recent paper by GOGLA, WWF and partners titled ‘Powering Climate Adaptation and Justice’. The paper illustrates how Decentralized Renewable Energy solutions are contributing to resilience building/adaptation, the injustices of climate vulnerability and energy poverty and profiles the urgent need to address these interlinked challenges

Expected outputs
This event will educate/inform participants on the potential of decentralized renewable energy solutions in fighting climate change and promoting sustainability. It will facilitate connections and inspire action towards a productive energy future. The focus will be on the climate impact of transitioning to decentralized energy systems, with discussions centred around equitable access to renewable energy and inclusive development. The event will explore the necessary framework, policies, incentives, and best practices for a just energy transition in the agri-food sector.

Program

Time	Agenda
12:30 p.m. - 12:35 p.m.	Introduction and Session Objectives - Moderator Opening Remarks: WWF
12:35 p.m. - 12:40 p.m.	Keynote address – Representative of the Africa Union
12:40 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.	Context Setting and Presentation of the Findings of Climate Adaptation Paper WWF GOGLA
1:00 p.m. - 1:10 pm	Discussants Representative of the AfDB Representative of CSO
1:10 p.m. - 1:20 p.m.	Plenary – Questions from the Audience
10 Min	Wrap-up and Closing Remarks WWF

Key Messages

We ask governments to recognize the role that off-grid /Decentralized Energy solutions can play in driving their climate adaptation and resilience plans.

We call on climate and philanthropic investors and donors to help de-risk Decentralized Energy solutions through the targeted use of adaptation and development finance, and to prioritize these solutions for carbon credits and mitigation funding.

We call upon governments and investors to put energy-poor communities at the heart of Clean Energy Solutions to ensure that it is fair, just and inclusive.

Link
Climate Adaptation Paper
https://www.gogla.org/reports/powering-adaptation-and-climate-justice/