Panel discussion – Power Up:
A Global Coalition Fighting for Climate Justice and Adaptation
From left to right:
Harriet Lamb, Ashden | Innocent Tshilombo, Kakuma Ventures | Eugene Nforngwa, PACJA | Gareth Phillips, AfDB | Patrick Tonui, GOGLA
”People who do not have access to energy are least capable of adapting to the effects of climate change…60-70% of produce is lost because they do not have clean energy for cooling. We need to start seeing energy access as an adaptation tool - and more importantly as a solution to Africa’s development.
Eugene NforngwaPACJA
This panel made a brilliant case for energy access as an important adaptation tool and for more innovative climate funding to flow through, for instance, in the form of AfDB’s adaptation credit mechanism, that allows credits to be bought and surrendered as a contribution to adaptation needs for smaller businesses, particularly women and youth driven.
Panel discussion – Post COP27:
What next for energy access climate solutions
From left to right:
Harriet Lamb, Ashden | David Arinze, SDG7 Youth Constituency | Julius Mujuni, New Energy Nexus – Uganda | Jem Porcaro, SEforAll
”I'm sorry to be saying this at COP27 but it looks like we will be blowing through the 1.5 degree target, and adaptation and resilience are going to become that much more important. All sectors need to be thinking of how to contribute to adaptation, and energy access is a vital tool.
Jem PorcaroSEforAll
A discussion on actions needed for energy access between COP27 and 28, including announcements like the World Bank’s DARES programme to bring in private investment, AIIB and GEAPP’s 1 billion USD fund for renewable energy projects in Asia and beyond, the African Carbon Markets Initiative, and others. The panelists strongly highlighted the need for accountability to ensure these commitments are on track and delivered upon.
Impact
COP27 was a great platform for existing members to meet up in person for stimulating discussions – and for recruiting new organisations. Over 20 organisations have expressed interest to sign up and/or connect us to other relevant organisations. Power Up had great visibility thanks to the events and our collective effort to promote it – the bright blue T-shirts had heads turning!
From left to right:
Innocent Tshilombo, Kakuma Ventures | Nashwa Naushad, Ashden | Michael Nkonu, Open Society Foundations | Harriet Lamb, Ashden | Giles Bristow, Ashden
Social media handles and channels were buzzing with Power Up posts and tweets. There were over 10 mentions of Power Up in media articles, a few links here:
With the available funds, we were able to facilitate the participation of one of the coalition members, Kakuma Ventures, a frontline enterprise operating in Kakuma Refugee camp, represented by Innocent Tshilombo.
Together with other coalition members, we presented Power Up to several African and UK government representatives including Kenyan and Rwandan officials, and Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, and Grant Schapps, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of UK. As highlighted by the Power Up Advocacy working group over the last few months – and reinforced by conversations at COP – the coalition’s efforts in 2023 to engage with policy makers and inspire them with stories of frontline innovation will be crucial to get energy access the attention and funding it deserves.
