Switching to renewable energy from conventional power sources has been considered essential to stave global warming. Now, a new report claims it can also boost the economy in the case of Africa. Such energy transition, backed by integrated policies, can help the continent’s economy grow an average 6.4 per cent. It can also add 26 million jobs by the middle of the century. Renewables and other energy transition-related technologies had already created 1.9 million jobs across Africa, a number that would grow substantially as countries invested further in the energy transition. Across Africa, the energy sector, employed around 5.5 million more people, both in 2030 and 2050 under 1.5-S, when compared with PES. Many of the renewable energy jobs in 1.5-S were in solar, bioenergy, wind, and hydroelectric power. This highlighted the sector’s potential for job creation, if accompanied by proactive deployment policies, investment and education and training opportunities to support the transition and allow for labor market mobility.
The net positive effect of the transition on energy sector jobs in Africa could be observed across all five African regions — north Africa, west Africa, east Africa, central Africa, and southern Africa. transition-related employment opportunities will take place where new installations and infrastructures are located, where relevant technologies are produced, and where supply chains are located. A wide range of policies needs to address the potential job misalignments. The African Development Bank is committed to supporting the continent’s energy transition, by facilitating increased private sector investments through its expanding range of green finance instruments, including the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa.