Energy Security and the Green Growth Agenda in Africa: Exploring the Trade-offs and Synergies

Abstract:

Energy security is a key component of any energy policy in many countries of the world (Winzer, 2011). The International Energy Agency (IEA) defined energy security as the uninterrupted availability of energy resources at an affordable price. It involves ensuring that clean, reliable and sustainable source of energy is available to drive the economy. The green growth concept is often viewed from the environmental angle with the business and economic angle not considered which makes some researchers support more the Green Economy (GE) agenda. GE simply imply an economy that emphases environmental sustainability, socially inclusiveness and resource efficiency. Many reports have identified some potential GE drivers in an economy. Any economic growth strategy that will be “green” should encompass these three crucial dimensions of sustainable development. This has become important especially in the face of the threat presented by environmental challenges such as climate change. The GZI (2013) noted that to build capacity and create awareness on GE, it would be crucial to highlight the potential benefits of GE in economic, social and environmental terms. If the goal is to protect global environment, raise living standards and ensure reliable energy supplies, green growth is important and inevitable (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development-OECD, 2011). The transformation in the energy sector is a crucial step towards green growth. This transformation involves changing the process of producing, delivering and consuming energy (OECD, 2011).