Tag Archives: Fossil Fuels

AMA, Business, Environment

New era of climate cooperation can deliver stability in an unstable world: UN Climate Change Executive Secretary

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ISTANBUL, Turkey, 12 February 2026-/UN Climate change News/-African Media Agency(AMA)/-Speaking in Istanbul alongside incoming COP31 President Murat Kurum of Türkiye, United Nations Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said cooperation on climate change can provide the cure to current political turmoil.

“We find ourselves in a new world disorder. This is a period of instability and insecurity. Of strong arms and trade wars. The very concept of international cooperation is under attack,” said Stiell in his first major speech since COP30. “But climate action can deliver stability in an unstable world. Climate cooperation is an antidote to the chaos and coercion of this moment, and clean energy is the obvious solution to spiralling fossil fuel costs.”

He pointed to huge progress that has taken place in the past year.

“In the decade since Paris, clean energy investment is up tenfold – from two hundred billion dollars to over two trillion dollars a year.”

“And, in 2025, amidst all the economic uncertainty and gale-force political headwinds, the global transition kept surging forward: Clean energy investment kept growing strongly, and was more than double that of fossil fuels.”

“Renewables overtook coal as the world’s top electricity source.”

This real economic change built on progress in international climate negotiations and through national action.

“The majority of countries produced new national climate plans that will help drive their economic growth up and – for the first time – global emissions down.”
“At COP30: a trillion dollars for clean grids, and major investments in forest protection, climate health, and much more.

COP30 also saw significant momentum in intergovernmental negotiations, including an agreement to triple adaptation finance to USD 120 billion a year by 2035, which will benefit African nations, as well as agreement on indicators to measure this progress.

Looking ahead to COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, and COP32 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Stiell highlighted a four-point plan for progress:

  1. Rapidly scaling up a global pipeline of clean energy and climate resilience projects and match making between countries, companies, and investors at coming COPs.
  2. “Hyper-charging the flow of finance” especially to developing countries, and all across Africa, ensuring countries have the support they need to deliver climate plans.
  3. Building momentum through “coalitions of the willing” working on initiatives including roadmaps to transition away from fossil fuels and halt deforestation.
  4. Moving the work of UN Climate Change closer to the real economy and working with Parties to improve climate negotiations.

Additional Resources

Figures cited in the speech can be found here:

Results from the COP30 Action Agenda

During COP30 the Brazilian Presidency and United Nations pushed for real economy progress through an Action Agenda. Key achievements include:

  • A trillion-dollar global pipeline for clean grids and energy storage, helping countries move toward reliable and affordable power.
  • USD 5.5 billion in new commitments for the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, with at least 20 percent flowing directly to local communities and Indigenous Peoples.
  • More than USD 9 billion in new investment across land and food systems, covering over 210 million hectares of land and reaching millions of farmers.
  • Nearly 438 million people worldwide are becoming more resilient to climate shocks under the Race to Resilience campaign.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of UN Climate

The post New era of climate cooperation can deliver stability in an unstable world: UN Climate Change Executive Secretary appeared first on African Media Agency.

AMA

World Bank Scales Up Support to Cabo Verde’s Energy Transition and Universal Access

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Washington, USA, 13 January 2026 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/- The World Bank today approved a $13.30 million concessional financing through the International Development Association (IDA) for Cabo Verde’s renewable Energy and Improved Utility Performance Project (REIUP). The operation is co-financed by a $1.2 million concessional loan and $0.41 million grant from the Canada Clean Energy and Forest Climate Facility (CCEFCF), as well as a $0.4 million reimbursable grant from the Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF).

The financing will support Cabo Verde to accelerate its clean energy transition and achieve universal access to electricity.

Cabo Verde has made significant progress in energy access, achieving 98% coverage and bringing reliable electricity to nearly the entire population. The country has also advanced its energy transition efforts, aiming for 100% renewable electricity by 2040, supported by ongoing sector reforms. Meeting the country’s targets will require further investment in clean power, improved grid stability, and continued reforms following the demerger of the vertically integrated utility ELECTRA. The approved financing supports these national priorities and is expected to leverage substantial private capital for large-scale renewable energy deployment.

“The scaling up of REIUP reinforces Cabo Verde’s ambition to become a leader in achieving universal access to electricity in Africa. By mobilizing private capital to accelerate the energy transition and strengthening the sector’s institutional foundations, the project will help ensure a sustainable, financially viable, and climate-resilient energy sector”, said Kwawu Mensan Gaba, World Bank Energy Global Practice Manager for Western and Central Africa.

The operation will:

  • Increase renewable energy generation capacity by supporting the development of 68 MW of new solar PV and wind generation and 12 MWh of battery storage, through a combination of public investments on smaller islands and private sector participation.
  • Enable the operationalization of a newly established, Government-backed Risk Mitigation Facility, expected to mobilize US$108 million in private capital.
  • Advance Cabo Verde’s efforts to achieve universal access to electricity through 1,800 additional household connections and last mile electrification.
  • Strengthen and consolidate ongoing energy sector reforms and institutional capacity, particularly for newly created entities resulting from the separation of water and power utilities, to improve financial performance, operational efficiency, and reduce commercial losses.

“With this new operation, we are investing in a cleaner, more affordable energy future for Cabo Verde—one that reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels, shields the economy from the volatility of global price shocks, and strengthens competitiveness. At the same time, it will drive job creation in the energy transition, with a strong focus on closing the gender gap in the sector.” said Indira Campos, World Bank Group Resident Representative for Cabo Verde.

REIUP aligns with Cabo Verde’s Master Plan for the Power Sector and complements all other development partners’ efforts in the sector.

Distributed by African Media Agency. on behalf of Word Bank Group

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Lifestyle

House Votes on Funding Bill, Shutdown Deal Dissent, COP30 Global Emissions

Maravi Post Reporter

The House returns to vote on a bipartisan bill that could end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history and send thousands of federal workers back to their jobs. Democrats face internal backlash after several senators broke ranks to support the deal, raising questions about the impact ahead of next year’s midterm elections. And COP30 opens in Brazil with a stark warning on global emissions, new data shows fossil fuels are at record highs, and the world is still far from meeting its climate goals.

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AMA, Environment

UNEA-6: Fossil Fuels Drive Both The Plastics And Climate Crises & Need An International Framework To Phase Them Out

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NAIROBI, KENYA, 27 February 2024-/African Media Agency (AMA)/- On the opening day of the 6th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) meeting, environmental experts and advocates united to demand decisive action against the ongoing climate and plastics crises fueled by fossil fuels.

Hellen Kahaso Dena, Project Lead of the Pan-Africa Plastics Project at Greenpeace Africa, emphasized the dire need for a robust Global Plastics Treaty.

“Our planet is drowning in plastic, a crisis intricately linked to the fossil fuel industry. Member states are allowing fossil fuel interests to drive the treaty negotiations and water down its ambition. Ending the corporate addiction to plastic is an important part of moving away from fossil fuels, combating climate change, pollution and protecting communities,” said Dena.

Amos Wemanya, Senior Advisor for Renewable Energy and Just Transitions at Powershift Africa, highlighted the devastating impact of fossil fuels on the climate.

“Fossil fuels are failing to power the African continent. Despite decades of coal, oil and gas extraction, 600 million Africans have been left without power. The era of fossil fuels must end now if we are to avert catastrophic climate change. We urge member states at UNEA-6 to commit to a rapid and just transition to renewable energy.”

Seble Samuel, Head of Africa Campaigns and Advocacy for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, called for the adoption of an international treaty to equitably phase out fossil fuels and deliver a financed global just transition to distributed renewable energy systems.

“The plastics crisis reinforces the need for a binding Global Plastics Treaty as well as a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty that can tackle the root cause of both crises —

fossil fuels. An international fossil fuel treaty is not only necessary, it is urgent. We need binding commitments to phase out fossil fuels and ensure a just transition for affected communities, particularly in Africa, that diversifies economies, deploys renewables, builds development alternatives and puts finance, technology, justice and equity at the centre.”

Plastic production is closely tied to the fossil fuel industry, primarily through the extraction and processing of petrochemicals. The energy-intensive process of converting petrochemicals into plastics contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. As global fossil fuel demand is projected to decline, the fossil fuel industry is eyeing plastics as a lifeline. As the demand for plastic continues to grow, so does the need for fossil fuels, thus increasing emissions and accelerating the climate emergency.

Greenpeace Africa, Powershift Africa, and the Fossil-Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative call on UNEA-6 member states to formulate and adopt a comprehensive and binding Global Plastic Treaty that addresses the entire lifecycle of plastics, from production to disposal. They also call on member states to endorse and implement an international fossil fuel treaty to fairly phase out fossil fuel production and support a just transition towards sustainable and renewable energy sources.

Distributed by African Media Agencyon behalf of Greenpeace.

For more information, contact:

Ferdinand Omondi, Greenpeace Africa Communications and Story Manager 
ferdinand.omondi@greenpeace.org
Cell: +254 722 505 233

Viviana Varin, Communications Campaign Manager
Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
viviana@fossilfueltreaty.org
Cell: +33 (0) 663 48 52 67

The post UNEA-6: Fossil Fuels Drive Both The Plastics And Climate Crises & Need An International Framework To Phase Them Out appeared first on African Media Agency.

Source : African Media Agency (AMA)