SAN canvasses funding for African clean energy innovators

The Chairperson of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, Prof. Damilola Olawuyi

United Nations Independent Expert and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof Damilola Olawuyi, has called for increased financial and technical support for clean energy innovators and entrepreneurs to accelerate a just and inclusive energy transition.

Olawuyi, who is also the UNESCO Chair on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development at Hamad bin Khalifa University, Qatar, made the call in a statement on his keynote lecture at the 2nd International Conference on Just Transition and Environmental Justice organised by the Department of Law and Criminology, Aberystwyth University, Wales, United Kingdom.

According to the statement, the conference, themed “Emerging Developments and Implications for a Just Transition”, brought together practitioners, academics, students and other stakeholders in international law, energy and environmental justice.

Olawuyi said that slow progress towards environmental sustainability, energy security and a green economy in many parts of the world was partly due to a lack of homegrown technologies.

He argued that excessive reliance on imported technology could undermine local ownership, limit domestic economic opportunities and exclude poor and vulnerable communities from accessing clean energy solutions.

The SAN also raised concerns about the high cost of imported solar panels, wind turbines and other equipment required to expand clean and affordable energy access.

The statement quoted him as saying that in many African countries, nearly all solar panels and accessories were imported, with some struggling to function optimally or last long under local weather, geographical and climatic conditions.

“This raises the urgent need to do more to support small and medium scale energy entrepreneurs to unlock African energy solutions.

“This requires us to swiftly address legal, regulatory and financial barriers that energy entrepreneurs continue to face across Africa and beyond,” he said.

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Olawuyi, who also serves as an independent expert on the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, identified financial constraints, limited capacity development and inadequate regulatory frameworks as some of the challenges limiting private sector investment in clean technology.

He, therefore, called for stronger international support and targeted financial interventions to enable African entrepreneurs to develop and commercialise locally made clean energy solutions.

“The energy transition cannot replicate or create new forms of exclusions and technology dependence. A justice-lens is therefore required to achieve a just energy transition,” he added.

Olawuyi also advocated financial empowerment and reskilling initiatives for environmental and energy entrepreneurs, particularly young people, women and Indigenous communities.

He said such support could promote the development of locally made solar panels, decentralised micro and mini grids and other clean energy technologies to improve electricity access in remote communities.

“We cannot achieve a just energy transition without addressing barriers that energy entrepreneurs and private sector investors face, and there is a plethora of them,” he said.

The statement added that the conference featured opening remarks by Prof Mathew Jarvis, Associate Faculty Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research at the Faculty of Humanities, Aberystwyth University, and the Head of the Department of Law and Criminology, Prof Engobo Emeseh.

An associate professor at the University of Bradford, United Kingdom, Dr Irekpitan Okukpon, moderated the keynote session.

It said a major highlight of the conference was the formal launch of the Society for Just Transition and Environmental Justice, which aims to promote discussions on legal pathways for advancing just transition and access to environmental justice at national and global levels.