Africa's century

Africa’s importance on the international scene has never been greater. Home to 11 of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies, the continent’s impressive economic projections are supported by estimates that 24% of the global working-age population will be Africans by 2050. By mid-century, one-third of the world’s youth will be African – also known as Africa’s youthquake.?

When it comes to accelerating the green transition, the African continent is equally essential. It is estimated that the continent holds more than 39% of the world’s renewable energy resources, while also being home to approximately 30% of the world’s global mineral reserves. On the flip side, African countries are among those hit hardest by climate change. Demonstrating the continent’s high vulnerability, every other climate-displaced person is expected to come from Africa in 2050.??

Whether the rallying point is resilience or renewables, Africa cannot be left out of the equation.??

Stronger presence and new tie-ups are at the fore of a new strategy released by the Danish Government titled ‘Africa’s century’. With the strategy building on equal, long-term partnerships, Denmark strengthens its engagement with governments, businesses and civil society across the African continent. Efforts will revolve around job creation, energy transition and climate adaptation, with a particular emphasis on water, forestry and biodiversity. But how??

Several Danish authorities are already actively engaged in such partnerships, and more are on the way. For example, the Danish Meteorological Institute is working with the Ghanaian authorities to examine the impact of climate change on agriculture, river systems and cities, providing a basis for investment planning considering the risk of flooding and prolonged drought.??

The Danish Energy Agency is similarly cooperating with the Egyptian, Ethiopian, Kenyan and South African governments via so-called energy partnerships, contributing to the local trajectories towards low-carbon economies. The cooperation is centred around policy improvements in long-term energy planning and modelling,?renewable energy integration and deployment, energy efficiency interventions and climate change mitigation.??

To reinforce climate-positive growth, green energy supplies and job creation in the process, initiatives such as the?Danish-led Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance (BOGA) and the?African-led Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA) will likewise receive greater support. The strategy further highlights support for implementing national climate plans, accenting the potential of establishing green corridors along shipping routes around the African continent.?

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