The Center East and North Africa (MENA) area has been main fossil gas manufacturing for many years, creating super financial progress.
Nevertheless, fossil fuel-driven progress has confirmed to be unsustainable for each folks and planet.
Because the local weather motion clock ticks, and with the worldwide group in a race to curb carbon emissions, the MENA area is redefining its function inside an evolving power panorama – one during which fossil fuels inevitably play a diminishing function.
Right this moment, even with out subsidies, photo voltaic and wind energy stand cost-competitive with fossil fuels and have emerged as the popular decisions for brand new energy era. Actually, renewables accounted for 86% of all new energy era in 2022.
This development is just not merely set to proceed; it’s accelerating considerably, extending even past the facility sectors.
For MENA international locations, transitioning to a renewables-based power system gives a pathway to concurrently meet rising power demand, promote financial progress, maximise socio-economic advantages, and obtain decarbonisation goals.
Recognising this, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) international locations are removed from standing idle. In a strategic shift in direction of enhanced local weather ambition, nations together with Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have embraced net-zero emission targets.
In response to IRENA’s World Power Transitions Outlook 2023 (WETO), international renewable energy capability should triple from roughly 3,000 GW to only over 11,000 GW by the yr 2030.
The world is seemingly aligning to satisfy this goal with G7 international locations, adopting IRENA’s targets for the group, and extra lately, G20 international locations, together with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, echoing IRENA’s international purpose to triple renewable power capability in New Delhi.
Nonetheless, the purpose to triple renewable power capability is just not confined to those nations alone; it’s a international goal that requires concerted efforts on the regional degree to make sure that all international locations are adequately represented and concerned.
As an necessary milestone within the lead-up to the 2023 United Nations Local weather Change Convention (COP28) in Dubai, MENA Local weather Week in Riyadh stands as a major alternative to domesticate regional unity throughout the MENA area and drive coordinated motion, with an eye fixed towards forging a worldwide consensus at COP28.
Not too long ago, the UAE has embraced this degree of ambition, pledging to triple its personal renewable power capability by 2030. This endeavour is especially noteworthy because the nation prepares to host COP28, reflecting a real dedication to main by instance.
Constructing political momentum and dedication is a essential first step, however it’s only the start. Every little thing, from our communities and power frameworks to our on a regular basis lives, is anchored within the present power system. But, this has to alter.
We’d like the braveness to create a brand new actuality and translate pledges into tasks and actions.
IRENA’s WETO envisions three pillars that can kind the muse for a means ahead.
First, constructing the required infrastructure and investing at scale in grids, through each land and sea routes, to accommodate new manufacturing areas, commerce patterns, and demand centres.
On account of its abundance of low-cost renewable energy and a strategic geographical location close to Europe and Asia, the MENA area possesses a aggressive benefit in changing into a key inexperienced hydrogen hub. Creating a system that cultivates and amplifies this potential might be essential for the area.
On this regard, it’s critical that Worldwide Monetary Establishments and Multilateral Growth Banks strategically prioritise their sources to maximise influence, particularly in enhancing the area’s bodily infrastructure, to encourage the scaling up of personal investments.
Secondly, bold targets have to be adopted by efficient insurance policies and rules that encourage investments. Fossil gas investments within the Center East are nonetheless considerably greater than renewable power investments, indicating an pressing must align monetary flows with bold local weather targets.
Though fossil fuels will inevitably stay part of the power combine for a while, their share should dramatically lower as we method mid-century.
The third precedence is growing the required institutional capacities to assist be certain that expertise and capabilities match the power system we aspire to create. That is essential not just for a simply transition but additionally for guaranteeing a workforce is prepared for a brand new system.
Oil-importing economies within the MENA area exhibit greater ranges of youth unemployment, necessitating intensive coaching, schooling, and capability constructing.
Concurrently, oil-exporting international locations would require deliberate coverage consideration to retrain staff and forge new employment alternatives by cultivating native industries and manufacturing, thereby changing roles as soon as sustained by the earlier power sectors.
Having hosted COP27 in Egypt final yr, and with COP28 set to happen in Dubai later this yr, the MENA area possesses a novel alternative. It will possibly make sure the rising power system not solely accommodates but additionally capitalises on the area’s considerable renewable power potential and strategic geographical proximity to main international markets, thereby securing its place in an evolving power panorama.
The trail ahead, whereas demanding intensive planning, funding, and collaboration, unveils a promising future whereby improvement is inclusive and useful, safeguarding the pursuits of all nations and future generations.
This opinion piece first appeared in Arab Information on twelfth October 2023.
Knowledgeable Perception by:
Francesco La Digital camera
Director-Normal
Francesco La Digital camera, By IRENA Director-Normal Francesco La Digital camera
