How global decarbonisation can turn into an industrial development opportunity in Africa

This briefing from the Africa Policy Research Institute argues that the global decarbonisation agenda presents both socio-economic risks and industrial opportunities for Africa. It advocates for an 'African Green deal' to leverage the continent's mineral resources for economic diversification and industrialisation, rather than remaining a source of raw materials for the global energy transition.

• The global shift toward green energy poses a significant economic risk to African nations dependent on fossil fuels, which currently account for approximately 40% of the continent's exports. Countries such as Algeria, Angola, Chad, and Nigeria face potential losses in public revenues and jobs, as well as the risk of stranded assets, as global demand for fossil fuels is expected to decline in the medium to long term.
• Climate change has caused severe economic damage in Africa, with losses totaling approximately US$38 billion in 2020 alone. These losses are projected to rise due to extreme weather events affecting infrastructure and the agriculture sector, which is the primary employer in Africa (nearly 50% of total employment) and is disproportionately female-dominated.
• Africa can mitigate its status as the world's most commodity-dependent region by leveraging its rich mineral resources—essential for low-carbon technologies—to drive industrial development. The author proposes an 'African Green deal' to use renewables as a tool for economic diversification and industrialisation, moving away from a role as a mere provider of raw materials.

APA

Lebdioui, A. (2022). How global decarbonisation can turn into an industrial development opportunity in Africa. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/how-global-decarbonisation-can-turn-into-an-industrial-development-opportunity-in-africa

Chicago

Lebdioui, Amir. How global decarbonisation can turn into an industrial development opportunity in Africa. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2022. https://afripoli.org/how-global-decarbonisation-can-turn-into-an-industrial-development-opportunity-in-africa.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Lebdioui |first1=Amir |title=How global decarbonisation can turn into an industrial development opportunity in Africa |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=23 November 2022 |url=https://afripoli.org/how-global-decarbonisation-can-turn-into-an-industrial-development-opportunity-in-africa |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{lebdioui2022how, author = {Lebdioui, Amir}, title = {{How global decarbonisation can turn into an industrial development opportunity in Africa}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2022}, month = nov, url = {https://afripoli.org/how-global-decarbonisation-can-turn-into-an-industrial-development-opportunity-in-africa}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }