Crandi

The Future Of Climate Progress Is Being Built In The Global South

Leo Migdal
-
the future of climate progress is being built in the global south

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video From Beijing to Nairobi to Sao Paulo — who is really driving the green transition? Countries like China, Kenya and Brazil are producing more and more renewable energy, while progress in Europe and the US is slowing. Wind turbines, solar farms, geothermal power plants — the green transition is happening all over the world, and the Global South is currently taking the lead in renewable energies. BRICS countries such as China and Brazil are leaders in solar energy production. Kenya gets 90% of its energy from renewable sources, primarily geothermal.

But there is also a downside. No country builds more solar power plants than China. At the same time, China is the world's largest CO2 emitter. Brazil is drilling for oil in the Amazon estuary, even though almost all of the country's electricity comes from renewable sources. Founder of Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge and Chair of Climate Crisis Advisory Group (CCAG), University of Cambridge Pro Vice-Chancellor, Climate, Sustainability and Inequality and Director, Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, University of the Witwatersrand

David King is the founder of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group. Imraan Valodia does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. University of Cambridge provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK. Climate change is a global challenge that demands collective action and innovative solutions. As we stand at the forefront of transformative change, it becomes imperative to evaluate the progress made in climate action, particularly in the Global South. Climate action in the Global South is linked to the idea of climate and energy justice.

Since most of the vulnerable population lives in countries in the Global South, the energy transition will not only be an environmental imperative but also moral and economic. Many countries in the Global South have already been on the path of achieving net zero objectives even before the target date. They have ambitious targets to reduce the carbon intensity of their economy. Data points for this are available publicly under the INDC declaration mandated by the Paris Climate Agreement, as well as on the government websites of countries in the Global South. Nations in the Global South are increasingly recognizing the potential of renewable energy sources to meet their energy needs sustainably. Solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power have emerged as viable solutions, offering cleaner alternatives to traditional fuels.

Initiatives like GEAPP have played a crucial role in facilitating this transition, fostering collaborations, and driving innovative financing mechanisms. Addressing Energy Poverty and Promoting Economic Development One of the remarkable achievements in climate action is the acknowledgement that clean energy is not just an environmental imperative but a driver of economic development. GEAPP’s commitment to accelerating energy access and a just energy transition aligns with this principle. By ensuring that clean energy reliably reaches remote communities, we unlock the potential for local economic development, innovation, and job creation. This approach addresses the interconnectedness of energy consumption and economic growth, particularly in the Global South.

Gaps and Barriers in Climate Action: The Financing Challenge WASHINGTON, DC/NEW DELHI/BERLIN – Of all the seismic geopolitical shifts in recent years, perhaps the most striking is the West’s rapid decline as a force in global climate governance. Under President Donald Trump’s second administration, the United States has become both more aggressive and more isolationist. Meanwhile, the European Union has grown timid, fragmented, and inward-looking. Will the Global South – especially Brazil, South Africa, India, and China – step up to fill the climate leadership vacuum? In 1972, at the United Nations’ first major environmental conference in Stockholm, then-Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi famously declared, “Poverty is the worst form of pollution.” To this day, the Global South grapples with...

Many developing countries have long feared that climate policies might reinforce historical inequalities or constrain their growth. But now, the Global South has an opening to ensure that the international agenda reflects its priorities. Many policymakers recognize the need for a change. While global cooperation has produced numerous important climate commitments, such as those made at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and those contained in the 2015 Paris climate agreement, they remain largely unfulfilled. Moreover, financial support from the rich world has been well below what is needed, hindering climate action in developing countries, eroding trust in Western leaders, and lowering global ambitions. The Global South has no shortage of climate visionaries – from Wangari Maathai to Vandana Shiva and Chico Mendes – who have connected environmental protection with community empowerment.

But the West has controlled the climate narrative for decades, because it dominates the science that informs the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the multilateral development banks that provide climate financing, and the... That is particularly true for the US. Despite its stumbles, such as when President George W. Bush withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol in 2001, the rhetorical ambition of other US presidents, including Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden, ensured the West remained a leading voice in shaping the climate...

People Also Search

To View This Video Please Enable JavaScript, And Consider Upgrading

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video From Beijing to Nairobi to Sao Paulo — who is really driving the green transition? Countries like China, Kenya and Brazil are producing more and more renewable energy, while progress in Europe and the US is slowing. Wind turbines, solar farms, geothermal power plants — the green transitio...

But There Is Also A Downside. No Country Builds More

But there is also a downside. No country builds more solar power plants than China. At the same time, China is the world's largest CO2 emitter. Brazil is drilling for oil in the Amazon estuary, even though almost all of the country's electricity comes from renewable sources. Founder of Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge and Chair of Climate Crisis Advisory Group (CCAG), University of Cambridge...

David King Is The Founder Of The Climate Crisis Advisory

David King is the founder of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group. Imraan Valodia does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. University of Cambridge provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK. Climate change is a global challen...

Since Most Of The Vulnerable Population Lives In Countries In

Since most of the vulnerable population lives in countries in the Global South, the energy transition will not only be an environmental imperative but also moral and economic. Many countries in the Global South have already been on the path of achieving net zero objectives even before the target date. They have ambitious targets to reduce the carbon intensity of their economy. Data points for this...

Initiatives Like GEAPP Have Played A Crucial Role In Facilitating

Initiatives like GEAPP have played a crucial role in facilitating this transition, fostering collaborations, and driving innovative financing mechanisms. Addressing Energy Poverty and Promoting Economic Development One of the remarkable achievements in climate action is the acknowledgement that clean energy is not just an environmental imperative but a driver of economic development. GEAPP’s commi...