IEA’s Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions Push: Why Africa Cannot Afford to Cut Off Its Nose to Spite Its Face in the “Developed World’s” Clamour for Energy Transition!

On the 18th of May, 2021, the International Energy Agency (“IEA”), released a publication entitled, “Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector” (the “Roadmap”). The Roadmap draws the plans for the global energy sector to reach “net zero” greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In this writer’s view, the Roadmap was published in furtherance of the Western world’s and indeed, the IEA’s clamour, for energy transition. For clarity, energy transition is, in relation to energy utilization, a shift towards a continuous reduction in the use of fossil fuels to non-fossil sources with the intention to have the world’s energy needs ultimately met, primarily, via non-carbon means.