Decarbonisation is not a grudge move just to meet climate targets – it is an important tool for achieving Africa's digital economy and overall development goals, with major cost and energy security advantages.
This is one of the messages that emerged from a environmental, social and governance (ESG) discussion centred on Vodacom’s ‘Decarbonising Africa’s ICT Sector’ White Paper on Wednesday, which also featured a panel of experts discussing how, as climate pressures intensify and energy demand grows, Africa must cut carbon emissions while expanding access to reliable, affordable power.
Moderated by energy transition analyst and The Progress Playbook editor Nick Hedley, the panelists included Carbon Trust Africa cohead and energy and climate policy specialist Jarredine Morris; African Energy Futures director Steve Nicholls; Presidential Climate Commission policy and research executive manager Lebogang Mulaisi; and Vodacom Group ESG and sustainable business executive head Nola Richards.
Vodacom Group CTO Dejan Kastelic, opening the event, said that in many African countries, energy infrastructure, utility financing, regulatory environments and electricity were still evolving.
Amid weak grid infrastructure, financial constraints within utilities, complex regulatory environments and unreliable electricity supply, the adoption of renewable energy across the continent is slow, and many sectors, from telecommunications and healthcare to mining, logistics and manufacturing, rely heavily on carbon-intensive diesel generators to power operations.
