The Malawi Government says it is yet to join the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA) on their campaign to end coal power generation globally.
PPCA is a group of 137 countries, cities, regions and orgamisations aimed dramatically accelerating the phasing out of fossil fuel such as coal through innovation and the deployment of clean technologies in five key sectors of the economy including: power, road transport, steel, hydrogen and agriculture.
Malawi’s stand on the development has been revealed after its participation at this year’s 26th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) which took place from October 31 to November 12, 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Alongside the conference, PPCA Secretariat and United Kingdom (UK) presidency hosted discussion and bilateral meetings on transition to clean and renewable energy, and clean cook stoves, championing campaign on phasing out coal generation; and delivering the historic Paris Agreement.
Presenting an update from the meetings in Parliament, Minister responsible for Forestry and Natural Resources Nancy Tembo said though many countries adopted the Glasgow Climate Pact and pledged to end coal power generation by 2030 and some 2040, Malawi is not ready to answer the call considering the current electricity situation.
Tembo said: “Malawi’s position is to join the Alliance later considering that the country is currently faced with electricity shortages which are slowing down social economic development, yet it has huge coal reserves that can be used for power generation but have not been exploited.
“Malawi has potential to generate 1000 MW from coal. This is very insignificant compared to about 2.045GW which is being generated from coal globally.”
“Nearly 200 countries adopted the Glasgow Climate Pact in Scotland late evening of Saturday November 13, 2021 at the end of COP26.”
“The outcome package asks countries to replace their 2030 national climate action targets with more ambitious emission reductions by the end of next year, 2022.”
“It also calls on countries to comply with standards set by the 2015 Paris Agreement, which asked countries to make changes to keep global warming “well below” 2°C and aim for 1.5°C by the end of 2022 to prevent climate catastrophe.”
According to Tembo, from the discussions and bilateral meetings they had on transition to clean and renewable energy, and clean cook stoves, more than 40 countries pledged to phase down use of coal, the single biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions; signatories to the deal including heavy coal users Poland, Ukraine and Vietnam.
She said also said developed countries pledged to phase out coal in the 2030s, with developing countries committing to a later timeline of 2040s.
From the meeting, Australia did not commit to phasing out the use of coal while at least 20 countries including Italy, Canada, the US and Denmark along with public financial institutions pledged to stop financing overseas fossil fuel industries by the end of 2022, diverting the cash to clean energy activities.
Tembo also reported that countries accounting for 90% of the world’s GDP pledged to reach net-zero emissions by the middle of this century.
Key among them was India which pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2070 through a massive expansion of renewable energy in the next 10 years until it accounts for 50% of total usage, thereby reducing its emissions in 2030 by 1-billion tonnes from a current total of around 2.5 billion.
In Africa, rapidly developing Nigeria also pledged net-zero emissions by 2060.
Tembo said: “Malawi also committed 50% emission reduction target, if full external financial and technical support is received, by 2040, compared to the business-as-usual scenario, as outlined in the revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).”
“The Glasgow Pact also agrees to fund the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage which will connect vulnerable developing countries with those who can provide the technical assistance, knowledge and resources they will need to address climate risks and avert, minimize and address future losses and damage.”
“Malawi will benefit from the full operationalization of Network as it will support in determining country needs to address loss and damage from climate change.”
“At COP26, it was also interesting to see some developed countries coming forward to provide funding for loss and damage, for example Scottish Government has pledged financial support amounting to two million pounds towards a Loss and Damage Fund.”
During the discussions and bilateral meetings, Tembo was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Eisenhower Nduwa Mkaka and Minister of Education Agnes Nyalonje.
