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Concept Note for Parallel Workshop: Towards a Just Energy Transition in Africa: Challenges, Results of Cooperation, and the Moroccan Case Study

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Concept Note for Parallel Workshop: Towards a Just Energy Transition in Africa

Ensuring a just energy transition in Africa is one of the most pressing issues in today’s climate change agenda. With only 4%1 contribution to carbon emissions, Africa suffers from the most severe consequences of climate change. In order to create the right conditions for an efficient and just energy transition on the continent, African governments and their development partners have a key role to play.

In recent years, several African countries started transitioning from traditional energy sources to utilising renewable ones. This action is driven by initiatives such as the Paris Summit and the United Nations Climate Change Conferences.

Within this framework, African countries have regarded the European Union (EU) as a crucial strategic ally for a considerable time. The European Green Deal transformative agenda launched by the European Commission in 2019 outlines the EU’s ambition to become the world's first climate-neutral continent by 2050. This illustrates how Europe is shaping its energy vision, but also offers opportunities to converge modalities with Africa, encouraging mutual cooperation towards more sustainable energy solutions. However, for the African continent, climate justice financing, technological barriers and regulatory frameworks are among the burdens that still hamper the continent's efforts to channel an efficient energy transition.

Climate justice in Africa and its financing was highlighted at COP27 through the Loss and Damage Fund, but also through various initiatives addressing Africa's financing needs for the energy transition, including the new financial architecture framework. However, it's important to assess where Africa stands today in terms of resources and energy mix.

The North African region has demonstrated strong performance in the use of renewable energy sources, particularly solar and wind. As a result, Morocco has emerged as a major contributor to Africa's transition to sustainable energy by committing to renewable resources, reducing dependence on conventional fossil fuels, and building a resilient and sustainable energy infrastructure. It's therefore important to look at Morocco's current energy mix, how the country has considered renewable energy sources in its energy transition path, and what the country's strategy is when it comes to green hydrogen.