VITO/EnergyVille's climate journey: contributing to a sustainable future for Africa

The Africa Climate Summit provided a crucial response to the escalating climate challenges faced by Africa as a whole and all its countries. The event served as a pivotal platform for shaping commitments, pledges and, ultimately, the Nairobi Declaration. The summit aimed to redefine the climate change narrative through collaborative efforts and urgent actions, uniting African stakeholders to drive innovative solutions and create a lasting legacy of climate action. VITO/EnergyVille was delighted to be part of this summit, contributing to the collective efforts to address the pressing climate issues. 

This article delves into the activities of VITO/EnergyVille during the Africa Climate Summit, setting the stage for our participation at COP28. The article focuses specifically on the NDC Support Centre’s side event, titled “Empowering Africa: Advancing NDCs and Climate Strategies for Energy Transition and Resilient Future,” along with other contributions such as driving Mozambique’s green energy revolution, supporting the launch of the African School of Regulation (ASR), and efforts to debunk myths about clean energy in Africa.

NDC Support Centre side event

In one of the plenary rooms at the Africa Climate Summit, VITO/EnergyVille and AFREC took the stage together to lead a side event aimed at catalyzing climate action in Africa. Titled “Empowering Africa: Advancing NDCs and Climate Strategies for Energy Transition and Resilient Future”, the side event brought together a diverse group of influential figures - including representatives from international and African organizations, policymakers, and technical experts.

The side event revealed the outcomes of the African NDC Support Centre - a joint effort by AFREC, CO2logic and VITO/EnergyVille, made possible thanks to the financial support from the Flemish government. This initiative aimed to enhance energy data, modeling capabilities, and governance structures across African nations. Thus, it marked a crucial step in shaping future energy and climate strategies, facilitating NDC (Nationally Determined Contributions) reporting, and advancing Long-term Low Emissions and Development Strategies (Lt-LEDS).

The session further focused on streamlining supranational NDC processes, enhancing local expertise in energy data and policy, and identifying common funding goals. It also emphasized VITO/EnergyVille’s ongoing efforts in empowering African ministries, addressing local challenges, and contributing to climate action. In this way, the side event showcased a collaborative approach to building a sustainable future for Africa.  

VITO/EnergyVille's Mozambique Mission: A Green Energy Revolution

VITO/EnergyVille played another supporting role at the summit in a roundtable discussion organized by Enabel, alongside the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, and Mozambique’s Minister of Land and Environment. 

At this roundtable, decision-makers from the European Union, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, the NDC Partnership, and Mozambique’s Inter-Ministerial Task Force on Energy Transition joined forces to underscore the vital importance of united support for Mozambique’s Energy Transition Strategy.  

Africa’s New School of Regulation for Energy

The Africa Climate Summit also witnessed the official launch of the African School of Regulation (ASR), in which VITO/EnergyVille participates. This institution, supported by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), has a mission to advance African energy regulation and policy expertise. It aims to contribute to achieving the Agenda 2063 objectives for sustainable development on the continent.

The ASR launch event featured prominent figures such as Herbert Krapa – Deputy Minister of Energy from the Republic of Ghana, and Ashvin Dayal – Senior Vice President of Power and Climate at the Rockefeller Foundation. ASR is not just a school; it serves as a hub for knowledge exchange and training, with a focus on driving investments in more accessible, dependable, and sustainable energy systems.

Debunking Myths & Paving the Way for Clean Energy

VITO/EnergyVille participated in a breakfast dialogue at the African Energy Transition Platform, hosted by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the African Union. The focus of the discussion was the launch of a policy brief titled ‘A Path Across the Rift’. This policy brief goes beyond highlighting misconceptions; it provides valuable insights into the African Energy Transition, essential for policymakers and investors.  

Sub-Saharan Africa’s potential in the clean energy transition is immense, but myths about a uniform African continent and oversimplified views of its natural resources are holding us back. The policy brief delivers a wake-up call, stressing the need for country-specific energy plans based on granular, place-specific evidence.  

Lighting the Path to a Sustainable Africa

As the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi concluded, it became evident that the journey toward a sustainable, resilient future for Africa is guided by the dedicated efforts of visionaries and institutions, which includeVITO/EnergyVille.  

The summit showcased the transformative power of collaboration, innovation, and steadfast commitments to climate action in every facet and conversation. Whether it was through the initiatives of the African NDC Support Centre, the Mozambique green energy revolution, the launch of the African school of Regulation, or the debunking of myths, a powerful catalyst emerged, shaped by VITO/EnergyVille's expertise and contributions.  

Looking Ahead to COP28 in Dubai

As we transition from the Africa Climate Summit to the upcoming COP28 - the 28th annual United Nations climate conference in Dubai - our EnergyVille/VITO colleagues are all set to carry forward the lessons learned and experiences gained in Nairobi. Their contributions will be part of the VITO climate services delegation at COP28, thus entering yet another crucial platform for worldwide climate cooperation.  

Within this global dialogue, VITO’s main focus will be on its International Climate Services (ICS). These services are designed to support climate-informed decision-making for both mitigating and adapting to climate change. Indeed, with 25 years of experience, VITO stands as a trusted partner in climate policy and international climate negotiations, supporting governments and international organizations in implementing climate measures.  

Curious to learn more about our participation in COP28? See this news item for a detailed overview of the VITO delegation’s activities and program in Dubai.  

This article came about in collaboration with our VITO/EnergyVille experts Maarten Pelgrims and Maarten Lenaerts.