Region
Africa
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Africa’s energy future in a post-aid world
The world of global development has experienced seismic shifts in recent times. Several of Africa’s key bilateral funders — the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Sweden— have all announced significant cuts to development spending to make room for their own national priorities. These recent trends further deepen what had already been a steady decline in…
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Why Context, Not Blueprints, Determines the Success of African Utilities
Reforms in Africa’s electricity sector are by no means new. Many African nations have introduced “a series of policy, regulatory, and institutional changes aimed at improving the performance, efficiency, transparency, and financial viability of the electricity sector” since the 1990s but with uneven outcomes. Although some African countries such as…
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Early net-zero action in Africa brings big climate gains—and development challenges, CATF finds
New research from Clean Air Task Force (CATF) explores how different timelines for achieving net-zero emissions could shape Africa’s energy, land, water, and development future. The study, Exploring Net-Zero Emissions Pathways for Africa Across Different Timelines, uses the Global Change Analysis Model (GCAM) to examine how various levels of climate…
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Exploring Net-Zero Emissions Pathways for Africa Across Different Timelines: An Integrated Assessment Modeling
Executive Summary Africa stands at a pivotal moment in the global pursuit of net-zero emissions. Although the continent has historically contributed the least to climate change, it is increasingly under pressure to align with international climate net-zero emissions goal, all while facing surging energy demand, infrastructure deficits, and complex development…
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How African perspectives are powering progress on regional methane mitigation
When we talk about climate change in Africa, methane is rarely at the center of the conversation. It often takes a back seat to carbon dioxide and other more visible environmental issues such as water scarcity, flooding, erosion, desertification, deforestation, and biodiversity loss. Nevertheless, methane is quietly doing damage in…
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Clean Air Task Force at Africa Climate Week: Advancing African-led climate and development solutions
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Clean Air Task Force (CATF) will bring its global expertise and on-the-ground perspective to Africa Climate Week in Addis Ababa, September 1–6, 2025, making the case for pragmatic, African-led climate and energy solutions that advance both development and decarbonization. “Global development and climate policy are at…
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New CATF analysis reveals hidden electricity costs are stalling growth for African businesses
Cotonou, BENIN – New research from Clean Air Task Force shows that unreliable electricity and the high costs of backup solutions are driving a significant share of African businesses into financial distress. Using Benin as a case study, the analysis finds that backup systems like generators and voltage stabilizers make…
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The Economic Burden of Unreliable Electricity Supply for Businesses in Benin
Executive Summary (English) | Executive Summary (French) Businesses in African countries not only face challenges with accessing electricity, but also struggle with the cost and reliability of power supply. To cope with frequent power outages and voltage fluctuations, these businesses often spend extra money on power generators, alternative energy sources,…
