Interactions between the Proposed Energy Mix Scenarios and Non-Energy Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Sub-Sahara African Perspective

Join me live on Zoom between 3.30pm - 4.30pm if you'd like to chat about my research:

Meeting ID: 819 7796 0037

Passcode: 110819

Abstract

Sub- Sahara Africa has the lowest access to energy globally which is partly responsible for its dismal socio-economic indices. The continent, however, has the unique opportunity to fuel its economic growth using clean and sustainable energy sources, and the way she meets her energy needs is critical for the region and the world’s economic and energy future. Given the continent’s aspirations, as well as her position and peculiarities within the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), an assessment of the interactions and implications between the goal to provide access to clean, reliable, affordable, sustainable, and modern energy (SDG 7) and the other non-energy related SDGs is important for coherent cross-sectoral planning and decision-making. This paper analyzes the interactions between the proposed energy mix scenarios projected for Africa and selected SDG targets using Nigeria and Ethiopia as case studies. The analysis was carried out by adopting and building upon a seven-point scoring typology used for the assessment of inter and intra- SDG interactions in other studies. The results indicate the context-specific similarities and contrasts in positive and negative interactions for high fossil-fuel and renewable energy scenarios in both countries and highlight the socio-economic and environmental impacts of the different energy scenarios on the achievement of the selected SDGs. The study concludes by providing some policy recommendations while also advocating for further science-policy dialogue to aid the availability of empirical SDG interaction data. This would facilitate better-informed energy policy and planning that integrates all the dimensions of sustainability and would allow Africa achieve a truly sustainable future.