Africa Renewable Energy Initiative born during Paris conference

The recent Climate Change Conference in Paris saw the launch of the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI).
The initiative's goal is to add 10 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity to the continent by 2020 and 300 gigawatts by 2030. The initiative has received backing from France, Germany, the U.S. and Canada.

“We will work hard to support and see the success of the African Renewable Energy Initiative and also call upon all stakeholders, including member states, financial institutions, the private and public sectors, civil societies and research institutions, among others, from all parts of the world to join us in our endeavors," Elham Ibrahim, commissioner for infrastructure and energy at the African Union Commission, said.

Khaled Fahmy, minister of environment for the Arab Republic of Egypt and the chairman of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), said the initiative was a perfect chance for Africa to advance its sustainable-energy development agenda, and that the program had Egypt and AMCEN's full support.