Absolutely. Sub-Saharan Africa needs abundant energy (not "avoided emissions," they have almost no emissions compared to developed countries, as you say), and renewables are the best way to deliver that.
By definition reducing emissions is not a very high priority in a low emissions country. But by the same token, the deadweight loss of a tax on net emissions in the country + border adjustment would be very small.
Really great piece. The issue of the appropriate pathway goes all the way through the spectrum of LMICs, and not just the poorest in Sub-Saharan Africa. In essence, the Paris Agreement has yet to operationalise the principle “common but differentiated responsibilities” or give due weight to development SDGs. What should these it mean in Nigeria, Pakistan, Indonesia and India, as well as Chad, CAR, DRC etc? I don’t think the focus on Net Zero - a distant point on a long emissions trajectory (and one not so far achieved or on track in any major OECD country) is helping. Nor has the pressure to write utterly unrealistic NDCs for emissions reductions by 2030 “to keep 1.5 alive” when it is clearly dead.
Absolutely. Sub-Saharan Africa needs abundant energy (not "avoided emissions," they have almost no emissions compared to developed countries, as you say), and renewables are the best way to deliver that.
Great article, appreciate the information and enlightening (!) perspective.
By definition reducing emissions is not a very high priority in a low emissions country. But by the same token, the deadweight loss of a tax on net emissions in the country + border adjustment would be very small.
Really great piece. The issue of the appropriate pathway goes all the way through the spectrum of LMICs, and not just the poorest in Sub-Saharan Africa. In essence, the Paris Agreement has yet to operationalise the principle “common but differentiated responsibilities” or give due weight to development SDGs. What should these it mean in Nigeria, Pakistan, Indonesia and India, as well as Chad, CAR, DRC etc? I don’t think the focus on Net Zero - a distant point on a long emissions trajectory (and one not so far achieved or on track in any major OECD country) is helping. Nor has the pressure to write utterly unrealistic NDCs for emissions reductions by 2030 “to keep 1.5 alive” when it is clearly dead.
Such a great piece!
Virtually all virtue signaling is misplaced
Ouch. But true.