Graca Machel: Technology provides Africa with a unique opportunity

Graça Machel asserts that Africa faces a critical intersection of energy poverty and climate vulnerability, noting that 621 million people lack electricity while the region contributes only 2.3% of global CO2 emissions. She advocates for a transition to a low-carbon energy mix, the adoption of biotechnology in farming, and the removal of inefficient energy subsidies. Machel calls on developed nations to fulfill COP21 promises, reform international climate finance, and phase out fossil-fuel subsidies, while urging African leaders to prioritize long-term national interests over political patronage.

• Africa is highly vulnerable to climate change despite contributing only 2.3% of global CO2 emissions, a situation exacerbated by the fact that 621 million people (two-thirds of the population) lack electricity.
• Energy poverty in Africa has severe social and health consequences: 80% of primary schools in many countries lack electricity, and over 600,000 people die annually from household air pollution caused by reliance on solid biomass for cooking.
• African leaders should redirect $21 billion currently spent on subsidies for loss-making utilities and electricity consumption—which primarily benefit the wealthy—toward renewable-energy investments and connection subsidies for the poor.
• Developed countries and G-20 nations must fulfill COP21 commitments, implement carbon pricing, phase out fossil-fuel exploration subsidies, and reform the ineffective international development finance system, specifically the under-funded United Nations’ Green Climate Fund.
• Technological innovation, including biotechnology for farming and the expansion of digital services like East Africa's M-Pesa, allows Africa to leapfrog fossil fuel dependence and build a low-carbon economy.

APA

Machel, G. (2016). Graca Machel: Technology provides Africa with a unique opportunity. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/economic-growth/graca-machel-technology-provides-africa-with-a-unique-opportunity/

Chicago

Machel, Graca. Graca Machel: Technology provides Africa with a unique opportunity. World Economic Forum, 2016. https://www.weforum.org/stories/economic-growth/graca-machel-technology-provides-africa-with-a-unique-opportunity/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Machel |first1=Graca |title=Graca Machel: Technology provides Africa with a unique opportunity |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=23 May 2016 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/economic-growth/graca-machel-technology-provides-africa-with-a-unique-opportunity/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{machel2016graca, author = {Machel, Graca}, title = {{Graca Machel: Technology provides Africa with a unique opportunity}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2016}, month = may, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/economic-growth/graca-machel-technology-provides-africa-with-a-unique-opportunity/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }