Korea and Africa: Partnerships on Climate and Energy

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the evolving relationship between the Republic of Korea and Africa, focusing on opportunities for collaboration in climate change and energy transition. It analyzes Korea's carbon-neutrality goals and the African Union's Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy (2022–2032) to identify synergies in renewable energy, green minerals, smart cities, and sustainable agriculture.

• The Republic of Korea has transitioned from an aid recipient to a donor, significantly increasing its official development assistance (ODA) to Africa from $212.07 million in 2004 to $2.4 billion in 2017.
• Korea's 2050 Carbon Neutral Strategy and its Energy Master Plan aim to reduce energy imports, specifically coal, by 18% and increase renewable energy by 30–35% by 2040, which will impact African countries currently exporting fossil fuels to Korea.
• The African Union's Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022–2032), endorsed on 6 February 2022, seeks a regional response to climate change through nine pillars and four strategic intervention axes, focusing on resilience, adaptation, and low-emission growth.
• There is significant potential for collaboration in renewable energy, as Africa has the world's highest untapped hydropower potential, with only about 11% currently used. Korea has already committed $600 million in co-financing for renewable energy projects via the African Development Bank (AfDB) through the Korea–Africa Energy Investment Framework pact signed in 2021.
• Africa's abundance of 'green minerals' (lithium, cobalt, manganese, and graphite) essential for electric vehicle batteries presents a strategic trade opportunity for Korea, which hosts top battery manufacturers like LG Chem. The DRC holds approximately 70% of the world's cobalt, and Zimbabwe has Africa's largest lithium deposit.
• Korea is exporting smart city governance and technology to Africa through the Smart Africa Alliance/Korea partnership and the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organisation (WeGO), with projects already launched in Benin, Ghana, Rwanda, and Tunisia.
• Collaboration in climate-resilient agriculture is pursued through the Korea-Africa Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (KAFACI) and the Africa–Korea Disruptive Agricultural Technology (DAT) platform, the latter of which connects agri-tech start-ups in both regions.

APA

SACK, H., & PHORÉ, S. (2022). Korea and Africa: Partnerships on Climate and Energy. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Occasional-Paper-335-sack-phore-2.pdf

Chicago

SACK, HANNAH, and SIMONE PHORÉ. Korea and Africa: Partnerships on Climate and Energy. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2022. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Occasional-Paper-335-sack-phore-2.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=SACK |first1=HANNAH |last2=PHORÉ |first2=SIMONE |title=Korea and Africa: Partnerships on Climate and Energy |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=August 2022 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Occasional-Paper-335-sack-phore-2.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sack2022korea, author = {SACK, HANNAH and PHORÉ, SIMONE}, title = {{Korea and Africa: Partnerships on Climate and Energy}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2022}, month = aug, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Occasional-Paper-335-sack-phore-2.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }