CAMEROON: ENSURING A PEOPLE-CENTERED ENERGY TRANSITION IN AFRICA THROUGH CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT

In prelude to the 2022 United Nation’s Climate Change Conference, COP27 which is ongoing in
Egypt since November 06th and will run till November 18th
, Africa Coalition for Sustainable
Energy and Access (ACSEA) organized a 2-day event on the 20th and 21st Oct. 2022. This
event was aimed at bringing government policymakers, civil society organizations (CSO) and
private businesses to discuss climate justice and a just energy transition in preparation for
COP27.
The Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) and ACSEA rolled out two multi-year
projects in Cameroon; Ensuring a People-Centered Energy Transition in Africa through Civil
Society Engagement and Galvanizing and Unifying Africa’s Action for Reliant Development in
the Era of the Pandemic (GUARD). These projects will be implemented by the national
platforms of PACJA and ACSEA.
The Executive Director of ACSEA Dr. Njamnshi Augustine stated, the impact of climate change
is constantly on the rise and regrettably those facing the immediate effect of the climate change
are left out at all stages of the decision making process. Dr. Njamnshi further insists this is the
right time for stakeholders to unite and look for a way forward in mitigating the effects of
climate change. In addition the Head of Programs of ACSEA, Mr. Eugene Nforngwa in a paper
on Ensuring a People-Centered Energy Transition Africa Through Civil Society Engagement and
GUARD in the era of the Pandemic, with the aim of strengthening civil society’s role in
promoting and implementing sustainable energy transition initiatives on one hand and equipping
CSOs to influence renewable energy policy development and seek to spur discussions that will
accelerate the Nationally determined conditions(NDC) implementation, respectively.
Pr. Tangka Julius an expert in Renewable Energy Technologies stressed on the fact that close to
30% of hydro electricity produced in Cameroon is lost mainly because of distribution. In order to
curb this energy loses, he advised the state to go for more grid connections.
Speaking on the negative effects of climate change and energy challenges on brain health, Prof.
Njamnshi Alfred of Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN) pointed out that severe health
conditions such as onchocerciasis and epilepsy were more prevalent in areas where dams are
being constructed. The effects of cholera and malaria cannot also be overlooked.
In the same light, the Managing Director of National Observatory on Climate Change (NOCC)
proposed a review of the agricultural calendar which will assist farmers to make informed
decisions on agricultural activities in order to adjust to climate disturbances and to optimize
output.
While discussing challenges, opportunities and strategy building for CSO engagement, the
participants mapped out the following key issues; insufficient knowledge and information flow
on RE in Cameroon, monopoly of the energy sector in Cameroon and galvanizing various
stakeholders.
Furthermore, participants stated that insufficient funding, high cost of setting up RE facilities,
energy distribution, seasonal variations, government social policies and low knowledge for
maintenance of RE equipment were the major challenges involved.
Looking at previous COP meetings, governments and stakeholders have agreed on policies that
mitigate global temperature rise and adaptations to the impacts associated with climate variations
but have not respected their promises. In COP26 in Glasgow, wealthy nations pledged to double
financial support for adaptation to $40 billion per year. But they are yet to meet that goal.
African countries have said they need about US$700 billion per year from 2025 to adapt. Africa
can be equipped with further defense against climate risks by enabling affordable borrowing
rates so as have a just transition in technology that’s sustainable. In this perspective, New
Zealand has pledged $20million for Loss and damage at COP27 and it is expected that other
developed nations will follow suit.
Why should developed nations step up at COP27 to protect vulnerable people from climate
change hazards? Developed nations should step up at COP27 because climate crisis is already
underway, and science shows that the window in which to limit the worst impacts is closing
quickly. The negative effects of the economic activities of developed nations cannot be over
emphasized.
Africa is already contributing more than her fair share to adaptation thereby accounting for onefifth of the expenditure required to reduce potential economic impacts on the continent,
according to the UN Economic Commission for Africa.
Climate change is a global problem that requires global solutions, but developing countries are
bearing the brunt of this crisis. Solidarity is key to breaking the stalemate and unlocking the
finances needed to cut emissions, build resilience and secure sustainable systems.