Equip youth in developing countries with green skills

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Equip youth in developing countries with green skills to solve unprecedented climate challenges

ReliefWeb on 23 October 2023

— Equipping young people in developing countries with green skills is a vital component of tackling the unprecedented climate crisis we are facing.

This was the message from Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, one of the largest global foundations in development and education, participating in the 2023 MENA Climate Week.

Hosted by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh the event gathered policymakers, practitioners, businesses, and civil society to discuss and examine barriers to overcome climate change, solutions, and global initiatives to address the situation.

Addressing delegates in the ‘Integrating Climate Change Education into the Education Systems in the MENA region” panel discussion, Mr Abdulla Al-Abdulla , the Executive Director of Reach Out To Asia (ROTA), an EAA Foundation programme said: “The impacts of climate change, from shifting weather patterns to rising sea levels, are felt globally, and the challenges posed are unprecedented in scale. Moreover, the largest generation of youth in history, nearly 90% of 1.8 billion individuals aged 10-24, reside in developing countries.”

He continued: “These young people hold the key to our collective future, but they are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis, despite bearing the least responsibility for it. Education is a powerful tool in bridging the knowledge and gap in skills that young people face in addressing climate change.”

To address this issue, EAA’s Reach Out To Asia (ROTA), has embarked on a new mandate this year focused on Education for Climate Action with three main focus areas; Greening Learning, Greening Communities, and Greening Refugee Camps.

These focus areas intend to integrate climate education into secondary school curricula and build the capacity of teachers and facilitators; equip young people with the knowledge and green skills they need to take climate actions in their communities; and develop relevant knowledge and skills for refugee youth to lead climate actions within these camps to foster sustainability.

Concluding his address Al Abdulla said:

“Our belief is that when young individuals understand the issues, acquire green skills, and develop the values and attitudes necessary for climate action, they can become the driving force behind tangible change in their communities.”

ROTA’s approach to climate education focuses on cognitive, socio-emotional, and behavioural domains, prioritising the behavioural domain to encourage and empower youth to make sound climate actions using their acquired knowledge and green skills.

These initiatives align with national and regional climate plans, including Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), supporting climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience as defined by the OECD.

ROTA–EAA Foundation runs various global projects aimed at equipping youth with green skills, knowledge, values, and attitudes for sustainable living. In Vietnam, ROTA collaborates with ActionAid to empower young community leaders in driving climate action and connect youth in a national network to influence decision-makers.

Recently, ROTA–EAA Foundation also launched the Green Youth 360 project with the Girl Child Network in Kenya, empowering youth in refugee camps with skills like tree planting, beekeeping, agriculture, environmental cleanup, and renewable energy, to address environmental challenges.

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MENA’s Green Transition: Unlocking Economic Opportunities to Drive Climate Action

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What is the MENA’s Green Transition: is it about Unlocking Economic Opportunities to Drive Climate Action or is it per the recent World Economic Forum report “Closing the Climate Action Gap by Accelerating Decarbonization and the Energy Transition in MENA.” Let us see MODERN DIPLOMACY NewsWeek‘s.

The above-featured image is for illustration and is of www.hartenergy.com

 

MENA’s Green Transition: Unlocking Economic Opportunities to Drive Climate Action

The livelihoods of over half a billion people in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are under threat, as current projections indicate a 4C increase by 2050. A new World Economic Forum report, Closing the Climate Action Gap: Accelerating Decarbonization and the Energy Transition in MENA, highlights the key sustainability challenges in the region and provides a blueprint for bold decarbonization actions that could fuel new economic opportunities.

The report’s findings indicate how local leaders could simultaneously counter these projections while fostering greater economic diversification and high-quality jobs. This would spur on the regional momentum for holistic climate action, as illustrated by the back-to-back hosting of COP27 in Egypt and COP28 in the UAE, and position MENA as a global leader in sustainable technologiesfor years.

The report was developed in collaboration with Bain & Company, with contributions from more than 40 policy-makers, climate actors, business leaders, banks and industry experts from the private and public sectors who form the Forum’s Leaders for Sustainable MENA .

‘’The MENA region has been one of the fastest growing regions over the past decade and there is a pathway for the region to position itself at the forefront of sustainability efforts while maintaining its upward economic trajectory,” said Børge Brende, President, World Economic Forum. “As global markets continue to shift, and energy demands rise, the region requires bold and coordinated action from policy-makers and businesses to lead a just energy transition and meet both climate- and development-related goals.”

According to the report research, temperatures in the region are rising at twice the global average rate, presenting an array of challenges in the coming decades that could threaten the livelihoods of the 575 million people who live there, 70% of them in low-income countries. Climate shocks, such as rising temperatures and prolonged droughts, could have serious effects on agriculture and liveability, as well as a compound effect on MENA’s systemic issues.

The report finds that MENA countries trail behind comparable regions in terms of their sustainability progress. While local governments have pledged in the past 24 months to bring 60% of MENA’s emissions under the net zero ambition, businesses overall have yet to follow suit and bridge the gap with comparable global markets –12% have set up a net zero target and 6% have established a roadmap to reach net zero.

“Successfully transitioning to a sustainable future will hinge on bold measures from policymakers and companies, raising awareness and multi-stakeholder partnerships”, said Tom De Waele, Managing Partner of Bain & Company Middle East. “But while this sustainability action for Middle East requires significant investment of time and resources, it also represents a significant economic opportunity, which could well position the MENA region at the heart of global energy transition and unlock doors to economic diversification, high-quality job creation, and global leadership in low-carbon technologies.”

With abundant natural resources like solar and wind energy, and significant land availability, the region could become a global leader in scaling new energy pathways, such as renewables and clean hydrogen. Coupled with capital availability and decisive governance in the largest economies, these characteristics could facilitate MENA’s transition to a decarbonized economy while helping it meet the growing international demand for clean energy.

“Today, we find ourselves at a clean-energy tipping point and the good news is that there has never been so much momentum, so much convergence in market demand, technology, regulation and public sentiment.” said Henadi Al-Saleh, Chairperson, Agility. “As a result, climate-related activity by companies and investors has already shifted from risk mitigation to opportunity capture. The MENA region has abundant resources, talent, ambition – and renewable resources in the form solar and wind – to lead the way and make significant contributions to the global decarbonisation drive.”

The report offers a tailored roadmap for regional policy-makers and businesses to advance sustainability action and facilitate economic diversification through the energy transition, considering the characteristics and needs of both the Gulf and non-Gulf countries alike.

To safeguard economic growth and global energy influence, Gulf nations should focus on technology-based solutions that reduce emissions in challenging sectors, optimize consumption, transition to renewables and implement carbon capture at scale. Meanwhile, non-Gulf countries should prioritize affordable energy, particularly in low-income areas, by increasing renewable energy usage, phasing out regressive fossil fuel subsidies and supporting carbon credit projects.

Upskilling in green jobs through skill development programmes and industry partnerships will be crucial across the region.

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Unlocking Economic Opportunities To Drive Climate Action

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MENA’s Green Transition: Unlocking Economic Opportunities To Drive Climate Action

By   

 

The livelihoods of over half a billion people in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are under threat, as current projections indicate a 4C increase by 2050. A new World Economic Forum report, Closing the Climate Action Gap: Accelerating Decarbonization and the Energy Transition in MENA, highlights the key sustainability challenges in the region and provides a blueprint for bold decarbonization actions that could fuel new economic opportunities.

 

 

The report’s findings indicate how local leaders could simultaneously counter these projections while fostering greater economic diversification and high-quality jobs. This would spur on the regional momentum for holistic climate action, as illustrated by the back-to-back hosting of COP27 in Egypt and COP28 in the UAE, and position MENA as a global leader in sustainable technologies for years.

The report was developed in collaboration with Bain & Company, with contributions from more than 40 policy-makers, climate actors, business leaders, banks and industry experts from the private and public sectors who form the Forum’s Leaders for Sustainable MENA.

‘The MENA region has been one of the fastest growing regions over the past decade and there is a pathway for the region to position itself at the forefront of sustainability efforts while maintaining its upward economic trajectory,” said Børge Brende, President, of World Economic Forum. “As global markets continue to shift, and energy demands rise, the region requires bold and coordinated action from policy-makers and businesses to lead a just energy transition and meet both climate- and development-related goals.”

According to the report research, temperatures in the region are rising at twice the global average rate, presenting an array of challenges in the coming decades that could threaten the livelihoods of the 575 million people who live there, 70% of them in low-income countries. Climate shocks, such as rising temperatures and prolonged droughts, could have serious effects on agriculture and liveability, as well as a compound effect on MENA’s systemic issues.

The report finds that MENA countries trail behind comparable regions in terms of their sustainability progress. While local governments have pledged in the past 24 months to bring 60% of MENA’s emissions under the net zero ambition, businesses overall have yet to follow suit and bridge the gap with comparable global markets –12% have set up a net zero target and 6% have established a roadmap to reach net zero.

 

 

“Successfully transitioning to a sustainable future will hinge on bold measures from policymakers and companies, raising awareness and multi-stakeholder partnerships”, said Tom De Waele, Managing Partner of Bain & Company Middle East. “But while this sustainability action for Middle East requires significant investment of time and resources, it also represents a significant economic opportunity, which could well position the MENA region at the heart of global energy transition and unlock doors to economic diversification, high-quality job creation, and global leadership in low-carbon technologies.”

With abundant natural resources like solar and wind energy, and significant land availability, the region could become a global leader in scaling new energy pathways, such as renewables and clean hydrogen. Coupled with capital availability and decisive governance in the largest economies, these characteristics could facilitate MENA’s transition to a decarbonized economy while helping it meet the growing international demand for clean energy.

“Today, we find ourselves at a clean-energy tipping point and the good news is that there has never been so much momentum, so much convergence in market demand, technology, regulation and public sentiment.” said Henadi Al-Saleh, Chairperson, Agility. “As a result, climate-related activity by companies and investors has already shifted from risk mitigation to opportunity capture. The MENA region has abundant resources, talent, ambition – and renewable resources in the form solar and wind – to lead the way and make significant contributions to the global decarbonisation drive.”

The report offers a tailored roadmap for regional policy-makers and businesses to advance sustainability action and facilitate economic diversification through the energy transition, considering the characteristics and needs of both the Gulf and non-Gulf countries alike.

To safeguard economic growth and global energy influence, Gulf nations should focus on technology-based solutions that reduce emissions in challenging sectors, optimize consumption, transition to renewables and implement carbon capture at scale. Meanwhile, non-Gulf countries should prioritize affordable energy, particularly in low-income areas, by increasing renewable energy usage, phasing out regressive fossil fuel subsidies and supporting carbon credit projects.

Upskilling in green jobs through skill development programmes and industry partnerships will be crucial across the region.

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The growing role of renewables in Africa

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The growing role of renewables in Africa: A catalyst for sustainable development

12th October 2023

The above-featured image is for illustration.

Posted by EngineeringNews and Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Africa is experiencing a remarkable shift towards renewable energy sources, signifying a significant leap towards sustainable development. With the potential to address energy access challenges, reduce carbon emissions, and drive economic growth, renewables have become a driving force on the African continent.

Renewable Energy in Africa: A Transformative Trend

 

Africa‘s journey towards a sustainable energy future has gained substantial momentum in recent years. The following key points exemplify the growing role of renewables:

 

Solar Power: The abundant sunlight across the continent makes solar energy an ideal source of powerProjects, such as the Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex in Morocco and the Benban Solar Park in Egypt, have showcased the immense potential of solar power in Africa.

 

Wind Energy: Wind power is rapidly gaining traction in countries like South Africa, Kenya, and Ethiopia. These nations have invested in wind farms that are not only bolstering their energy supply but also reducing their dependence on fossil fuels.

Hydropower: Africa is home to numerous rivers and water bodies, making hydropower a viable energy source. Projects like the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the Inga Dam in the Democratic Republic of Congo are poised to be transformative for the continent’s power generation.

Off-Grid Solutions: Mini-grids and off-grid solutions are bringing electricity to remote and underserved regions. Innovative approaches, such as pay-as-you-go solar systems and microgrids, are improving energy access and catalysing economic growth.

Investment and Partnerships: International organisations, governments, and private investors are collaborating to fund renewable energy projects across Africa. These partnerships are vital in driving the expansion of renewable energy infrastructure.

Benefits of Renewable Energy Adoption

The growing role of renewables in Africa brings numerous advantages, including:

Energy Access: Renewable energy is extending energy access to underserved communities, fostering economic development, and improving living standards.

Job Creation: The renewable energy sector is creating employment opportunities across the value chain, from manufacturing to installation and maintenance.

Sustainability: Reducing the carbon footprint and mitigating the effects of climate change are central benefits of transitioning to renewable energy sources.

Energy Security: Diversifying the energy mix by incorporating renewables enhances energy security and reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels.

Economic Growth: Investments in renewable energy are spurring economic growth by attracting foreign investment, promoting local manufacturing, and boosting export opportunities.

Energy Independence: African nations are taking steps towards energy independence by harnessing their abundant renewable resources, reducing reliance on energy imports, and enhancing energy sovereignty.

A Call for Continued Investment and Innovation

While Africa has made impressive strides in the adoption of renewable energy, there is still much work to be done. To fully realize the potential of renewables, continued investment, innovation, and supportive policies are crucial. Governments, private sector stakeholders, and international organisations must collaborate to overcome challenges and seize the opportunities presented by renewable energy.

The future of Africa‘s energy landscape is green, and it holds the promise of a brighter, more sustainable future for all its inhabitants.   A significant focus of the upcoming Africa Energy Indaba, taking place from the 5 – 7 March 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa will be to facilitate further investment into renewable energy growth in Africa.  “We invite all interest parties to take up the opportunity to find out about the latest renewable energy development opportunities, meet the key stakeholders and project developers and gain an understanding of the business opportunity.  All this will be available at the Africa Energy Indaba,”  commented, Liz Hart, Managing Director of the Africa Energy Indaba

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No looking back: Energy transition in MENA region

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All over the world, advances in technology present a good opportunity to rebuild energy systems to meet global climate goals. The strong risk-adjusted returns and positive environmental impact will certainly, in any case, mean there is no looking back: Energy transition in the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) region is going down on a oneway road.

The above-featured image is for Representation Purpose

 

No looking back: Energy transition in Middle East-North Africa (MENA) region

In many ways, this year was the tipping point for renewable energy. The world has woken up to the imperative of energy transition, and countries around the world have made progress on this front, albeit to different degrees. We take stock of their situation in this multi-part series. 

Energy Storage

Claimed as one of the highest-potential regions for renewables and energy storage in the world, the Middle East and the Africa have just began exploring their possibility of unlocking the region’s natural and geopolitical advantages in this regard. Storage projects are becoming key factors in achieving RE targets in this region, especially in countries such as Jordon, Israel, Morocco, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and so on.

The prime drivers of energy storage in the region are as following:

  • Intermittency in solar and wind power generation warrants robust energy storage systems in place for reliable and consistent energy supply
  • Demand for grid improvements and control of load-shedding across vast and remote areas of the region fuels the critical need for energy storage
  • Push from power utilities and government policies to invest in battery storage, as in countries such as South Africa and Israel
  • Interest shown by private sector IPPs in energy storage
  • Ease in lending by DFIs and commercial banks for energy storage projects under RE sector

As per a recent report by Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP), about 30 energy storage projects are planned in MENA region between 2021 and 2025 with a total capacity of 653 MW / 3,382 MWh.

Pumped hydro storage (PHS) and electrochemical energy storage, Sodium-Sulphur (NaS) and lithium-ion batteries in particular, are the preferred technologies in the region. The storage duration hovers between 32 minutes and 2 hours for li-Ion batteries, 6 hours for NaS batteries, and 10 hours in the case of thermal storage.

The share of battery energy storage is expected to jump from the current 7 percent to 45 percent by 2025, APICORP report adds.

A fair share of ES projects, both planned and already operational, are coming up in the GCC (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman), North Africa (Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia), and some key projects in the Levant (Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon).

Some of the key developments in ES projects in 2023 are as following:

  • Israel has announced 800 MW/ 3,200 MWh BESS buildout comprising four facilities of 200 MW and 4 hours’ storage duration each in the northern Gilboa mountain range region.
  • West Africa’s first BESS project (16 MW of solar PV with 10 MW/ 20 MWh) dedicated to frequency regulation is coming up in Senegal – the largest BESS in the country as of now.
  • Masen is undertaking Noor Midelt III solar-storage project with 400 MWh of BESS capacity in Morocco – the largest energy storage project in the country.
  • Ncondezi Energy has secured land agreement for 300 MW solar-cum-storage project in Mozambique early this year.
  • South Africa has floated RfP for 513 MW of battery storage early this year.
  • Sungrow to build 536 MW/ 600 MWh BESS for ACWA Power in Neom smart city in Saudi Arabia.
  • Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has called for 300 MW/ 300 MWh of BESS capacity in UAE in the next three years.

E-mobility

The year 2023 is considered as pivotal period for the MENA region in embracing e-mobility. Investors are identifying unique opportunities to capitalize the emerging EV space, which is seen as a corollary to the emergence of RE, energy storage, and smart grid initiatives in recent times.

The Middle East and African EV market size is expected to grow from $2.70 billion in 2023 to $7.65 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 23.20 percent, predicts Mordor Intelligence.

Some of the critical factors influencing the region’s transition to EVs are as following:

  • Abundant solar and wind energy potentials that can support a vibrant EV ecosystem
  • Change in policy focus of governments in the region to promote the use of EVs with tax incentives
  • Rising government initiatives to build charging infrastructure
  • Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries burdened with fuel dependency and subsidies are in urgent need of alternative energy sources for transport
  • Startups and incubators are showing high interest in new business models
  • Western electric car markets are showing interests to enter the premium markets in the region

Leading countries in this emerging EV endeavor in the MENA region are Turkey, Israel, Jordon, UAE, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Here are the latest developments in this regard:

  • UAE has revised its national EV policy with a target of achieving 50 percent EV penetration in total vehicles by 2050. The country also plans to build 914 AC and DC charging stations for electric vehicles by the end of 2023.
  • Dubai has vowed to increase the city’s network of public charging stations by 170 percent in the next three years – from 370 points currently to 680 by 2025.
  • Israel has registered a 10 percent rise in EV sales in the first half of 2023 as against last year.
  • Turkey is fast-emerging as an EV manufacturing hub in the Middle East, with global OEMs like Ford, Toyota, Hyundai, and Renault establishing JVs for EV assembly to cater to local and export markets.

Green Hydrogen

The COP27 held in Egypt last November kick-started a pivotal moment for green hydrogen investments in the MENA region. A slew of announcements in the past one year have put the region under the spotlight, thanks to a combination of factors such as rising global demand (especially for Europe), cost reductions via innovation, and pre-existing conditions suitable for production and transportation of green hydrogen.

At present, over 46 green hydrogen and ammonia projects across Middle East and Africa has been identified, with an estimated total budget of more than $92 billion. Although the current active hydrogen capacity is just 0.2 million tons per annum, reports predict a huge capacity expansion in the coming years owing to export potential.

According to MEED, the demand in Europe alone is forecast to double to 30 million tons a year by 2030 and to 95 million tons by 2050. With the scaling up of European investments in the region’s hydrogen landscape, a vast majority of this demand is likely to be fed by the green hydrogen produced in MENA region.

Leading countries in the hydrogen rush in the region are Egypt, Mauritania, Oman, Kenya, the UAE, South Africa, Namibia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. Some of the key developments in MENA’s green hydrogen landscape in 2023 are as following:

  • At COP27, Egypt garnered nine projects worth $83 billion, with a capacity to make 7.6 million tons of green ammonia and 2.7 million tons of green hydrogen per year.
  • UAE has announced two hydrogen production hubs called as ‘oasis’ by 2031, with a production target of 1.4 million tons of green H2 per year by 2031 and 15 million tons by 2050.
  • Saudi Arabia’s NEOM Helios – claimed as the world’s largest green hydrogen plant – has concluded EPC agreements with Air Products and other agreements with financial institutions. The project under construction is scheduled to become operational in 2026.
  • Oman Acme Group green hydrogen hub to produce 2,400 TPD of green ammonia with an annual production of 0.9 million tons became operational.
  • ACWA Power, OQ, and Air Products have invested on a world-scale green hydrogen-based ammonia plant in Oman. Preliminary work for the construction of the facility has started.
  • Marubeni Corporation and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) are conducting a feasibility study for producing clean hydrogen in the country for export markets. PIF is already working on another green hydrogen project with POSCO, finalized in 2021.
  • Hyphen Hydrogen Energy has announced the next phase of a $10 billion green hydrogen project that is coming up in Namibia.

To see other articles in this series, click here.

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