Africa
Energy efficiency plays a critical role in meeting energy demand and reducing environmental impact in sub-Saharan countries. CLASP works regionally and nationally to advance policy solutions and proper policy implementation that encourage climate-friendly economic growth.
Efficient Water Use in a Drying World
CLASP is supporting governments to implement water efficiency policies to reduce water wastage and mitigate impending water crises. Learn more about our work in South Africa in promoting sustainable water.
Energy efficiency can mitigate rising energy demand
Africa’s population will exceed two billion before 2040, increasing energy demand from industrial production, cooling, and other essential sectors. Despite only producing 2% of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, the continent disproportionately bears the harmful effects of climate change. How this rising energy demand is met will then largely influence the continent’s economic growth and climate goals.
Appliance energy efficiency mitigates the impacts of rising electricity demand, which is set to grow twice as fast as the global average over the next two decades, and encourages climate-friendly development without adversely affecting quality of life. CLASP works to assess markets, inform policy, and guide policy compliance strategies in sub-Saharan countries alongside local and international partners.
Energy efficiency can help limit Africa's primary energy demand to 50% by 2040, despite fourfold economic growth in the same time period.
International Energy Agency, 2019
CLASP Provides Support in These Sub-Saharan Countries
Kenya
In Kenya, the largest economy in East Africa, more sustainable energy is necessary to achieve the goals of Vision 2030. CLASP collaborates with policymakers to inform and promote ambitious energy efficiency policies for appliances.
Kenya has committed to reducing greenhouse gases emissions by 30% by 2030.
The Kenyan government has announced the Big Four Agenda, as part of Kenya Vision 2030, an ambitious development plan which aims to mitigate the effects of climate change through food security, affordable housing, growth in manufacturing, and affordable healthcare for all. CLASP and Kenyan policymakers have collaborated to develop and promote energy efficiency policies for highly-consumptive appliances since 2017, supported by the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program. Over the multi-year collaboration, CLASP has supported energy efficiency policies for air conditioners and refrigerators, as well as a digital campaign to promote the national energy label and the development of a National Cooling Action Plan, that will help Kenya meet and potentially exceed its climate commitments.
West Africa
In the Economic Community of West African States, rapidly increasing economic activity and the associated rise in demand for cooling technologies pose a serious challenge to achieving climate goals. We work alongside policymakers to accelerate the impact of cooling efficiency policies by enhancing regional collaboration on policy compliance.
Rapid economic growth is projected to drive a 205% increase in air conditioner sales by 2030, as compared to 2015 levels.
In West Africa, climate-related temperature increases will cause some areas of the region to become as hot as the Sahara Desert within 80 years. As rainfall becomes highly unpredictable and often extreme, causing both severe dry seasons and destructive floods, two-thirds of the population who depend on farming are facing a food crisis. With support from the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program, and in collaboration with the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), CLASP has been supporting the development of regional policy compliance for cooling appliances since 2018. Properly enforced cooling policies not only enable access to highly-efficient technologies but reduce the associated carbon dioxide emissions from product-use that drive climate-related weather extremes. CLASP and ECREEE collaborate on policy compliance interventions that remove inefficient products from the market and benefit the climate.
South Africa
CLASP also provides technical support in South Africa, where a transition to more efficient lighting can alleviate overburdened national grids and the subsequent blackouts, which hamper social, health, and economic activities.
South Africa uses approximately 40% of Africa’s electricity.
CLASP provides support to South African policymakers to promote energy efficient household appliances, commercial equipment, and lighting. Electricity in South Africa is largely coal-based, accounting for a significant majority of their domestic energy generation. Coal mining and combustion largely contribute to global warming, air pollution and decreased water quality—leading to adverse health implications. Energy efficiency policies have significant potential to positively impact human health, economic growth, and the climate.
