PAPER

Accelerating Decarbonization of Africa’s Energy System: A Blue Economy Perspective

SUMMARY

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) aims to “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.” Improving access to affordable and clean energy for all, while reducing GHG emissions and the carbon footprint of the energy sector, remains on the front burner of the global energy transition debate. In the context of how the interplay between policy and markets has been a major driver of the global energy transition, competitiveness, trade, and productivity performance of energy economic systems are key issues in the sustainability debate. Tackling climate change to transition towards a global low-carbon economy remains an urgent and important policy priority for the international community. Africa is not an exception. The inequitable impacts of climate change on African countries due to low preparedness and adaptive and response capacity at the institutional and community levels are well documented. As such, to the extent that the blue economy remains vital to the future prosperity of lives and livelihoods on the continent, the deployment of climate resilient models and innovative approaches in coastal regions and marine activities are key to achieving sustainable outcomes.