Albert Ahenkan and Samuel Anuga presented their research project on the European Union’s Green Deal (EGD) to promote the transition to renewable energy in the context of EU-Africa relations on September 19. Amidst global and regional geopolitical shifts and the urgent need for environmental sustainability, the two fellows are investigating how the EGD acts as a catalyst in promoting renewable energy sources and technologies between these two different continents.

The European Union aims to become the world’s first carbon-neutral continent by 2050. This ambitious goal is supported by comprehensive policy initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, improving energy efficiency and increasing the share of renewables in the EU’s energy mix. In contrast, while Africa is rich in renewable energy resources, it faces severe energy poverty with 600 million people without access to electricity. At the Colloquium, they discussed with the other Fellows the significant opportunities for cooperation between the EU and Africa offered by the EDG to bridge the energy divide through financial mobilization, technology transfer and policy harmonization.