The international community attending the climate change conference in Paris has backed the ambitious Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) with over $10 billion worth of support.

The African-led plan is to add 10 GW of additional renewable energy on the continent by 2020 to accelerate access with a view to reducing energy poverty.

At an event on the sidelines of the COP21, the European Union, Sweden and G7 jointly pledged the amount – in particular, Germany will contribute $3.25 billion, France $2.2 billion, Sweden $500 million and Canada CA$110 million to the initiative, which will provide clean power to millions across the continent.

“We support Africa’s leadership and commit to working closely with African partners to bridge the access gap and develop Africa’s renewable energy potential. In this context we welcome the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative as a transformative, Africa-owned and led inclusive effort to accelerate and scale-up the harnessing of the continent’s renewable energy potential,” said a joint statement from the partners.

A 2015 UNEP report found an approximately 600 million people have no access to electricity in Africa, with the figure expected to rise to 700 million by 2030 without further action. As a result, many rely on wood or other biomass to cook and heat their homes, leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths each year from indoor air pollution.

AREI is to help achieve sustainable development and enhanced well-being by ensuring universal access to clean and affordable energy.

It will mobilize substantial financial resources from private investors, development finance institutions and multilateral development banks by 2020 building on existing work and initiatives.

"Africa is tired of being in the dark. The lack of electricity has put the brakes on Africa's industrialization,” observed Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB). “Through the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative, we can sustain fast economic growth in Africa and on a low carbon development pathway.”

In its second phase, the Initiative is targeting the mobilization of Africa's massive renewable resources, such as solar, geothermal and wind, to generate at least 300 GW by 2030, more than doubling current capacity.

Initial analysis of almost 6,000 projects targeting renewable energy and energy efficiency in developing countries has revealed that the projects could reduce CO₂ emissions by about 1.7 gigatons a year by 2020.

The findings, released at COP21 in Paris by the 1 Gigaton Coalition in its first annual report, entitled Narrowing the Emissions Gap: Contributions from renewable energy and energy efficiency activities, are based on projects implemented between 2005 and 2012.

They show the potential for further emissions reductions if programmes and initiatives are supported further to replicate successful projects more widely.

“Africa's renewable energy revolution will ensure access to clean, reliable and efficient energy, while ensuring we do not add to the greenhouse gas emissions we are gathered here in Paris to reduce,” stated UNEP Executive Director, Achim Steiner. “The Africa Renewable Energy Initiative aims to do just that. Such leadership from Africa, and the financial backing from the international community announced today, provides fresh hope that we can tackle the twin challenges of sustainable development and climate change."

AREI is endorsed by the African Union and African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment, and the African Development Bank, among others.

“We will work hard to support and see the success the African Renewable Energy Initiative and also call upon all stakeholders including Member States, financial institutions, the private and public sectors, civil societies and research institutions, amongst others, from all parts of the world to join us in our endeavours,”, said Dr. Elham Ibrahim, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the AU Commission.