United States climate diplomat, warns against long-term gas projects in Africa

• US climate envoy John Kerry warns against investing in long-term gas projects in Africa.
• Kerry says after 2030, it will be critical to capture gas emissions as well.
• Gas can be used as a bridge fuel to cleaner energy sources, Kerry said.

US climate envoy John Kerry has warned against investing in long-term gas projects in Africa, as countries in the region grapple with how to power their development with clean energy, with some hoping to tap recent oil and gas discoveries.

“We are not saying no gas,” Kerry told Reuters on the sidelines of an African environment ministers’ conference in Dakar, Senegal, on Thursday.

“What we are saying is, over the next few years, gas replaces coal or replaces oil,”According to the former secretary of state and Democratic presidential candidate, gas can be used as a bridge fuel to cleaner energy sources.

However, Kerry added that after 2030, it will be critical to capture gas emissions as well.

The continuation of financing for African oil and gas projects has become a key issue for the countries, which they intend to press during a United Nations climate summit in Egypt in November.

Senegal and other countries in the region hope to begin producing oil and gas, which will help boost electricity production, power industries, and reduce energy poverty.

According to the International Energy Agency, over 600 million people, or 43% of Africa’s population, lack access to electricity, with the majority of them living in Sub-Saharan Africa.

African countries argue that investments are needed to develop their energy resources, including oil and gas, and that a pledge by developed nations, including the United States, to reduce investments in fossil fuels last year was unjust.

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