Oct 20: CEFO Seminar – Low Carbon Energy Narratives and Futures in Africa: Dissonant Times?



Welcome to the October 20 CEFO Seminar with Yacob Mulugetta!

When: October 20 kl. 10.15-12.00

Where: Online via Zoom: https://uu-se.zoom.us/j/61071384789 Meeting ID 610 7138 4789

It is widely recognized that energy production and use is both a key reflection of the socio-economic landscape as well as a major driver of the climate challenge. Africa finds itself at the heart of a momentous global energy and climate conversation. The energy and development reality across the region evokes deep emotions about the importance of doing something about the scandal of energy poverty. As if this was not complex enough, there is a call for the region to chart out a new and responsible energy pathway: one that does not impact on the global climate system. To this end, numerous real world experiments are taking place across Africa on various ‘energy futures’ to simultaneously unlock local (and national) energy potentials and deal with major global challenges. What is also emerging is how ideas around the ‘energy-climate challenge’ play out is highly dependent on the multi-level political context and dynamics, and is thus deeply influenced by competing framings and narratives. These dominant and competing accounts, in turn, interact to shape the specific interventions and policies. This presentation/discussion will explore the dominant narratives that are shaping the African energy landscape, how these narratives are constructed and mobilized, and discuss ways to open alternative and energy possibilities that protect the wellbeing of poor communities and their climate. The talk will also sketch out the research and policy opportunities in this area.

Yacob Mulugetta is a Professor of Energy and Development Policy at the University College London. Among other things he is a founding member of the African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC) at the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and he has served as a Coordinating Lead Author of the Energy Systems chapter of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 5th Assessment Report (Working Group III on Mitigation).