Global Citizen NOW: Johannesburg – Global Citizen

Report on the Global Citizen NOW Summit in Johannesburg

The Global Citizen NOW action summit is scheduled to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 21 at the Sandton Convention Centre. This marks the first time the summit will be hosted on the African continent, convening on the eve of the G20 Leaders’ Summit. The event is positioned as a critical platform to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a primary focus on energy, climate action, and economic development in Africa.

Summit Objectives and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Johannesburg summit serves as the culminating event for the year-long “Scaling Up Renewables in Africa” campaign. Its central objective is to mobilize investments and secure commitments from public and private sectors to advance a sustainable and equitable energy future for Africa, directly contributing to several key SDGs.

Advancing SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

The summit’s core mission is to address the critical need for clean and accessible energy across the continent, a direct action towards achieving SDG 7. Key targets include:

• Quadrupling Africa’s renewable energy capacity by 2030.
• Addressing the energy needs of the 600 million people on the continent who currently lack access to electricity.
• Mobilizing financial commitments from governments, multilateral development banks, and the private sector to fund this transition.

Promoting SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

By championing a just transition to renewable energy, the summit aims to create a dual impact on climate resilience and economic prosperity. This aligns with SDG 13 by promoting a sustainable energy mix to mitigate climate shocks and with SDG 8 by fostering conditions for inclusive growth. President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, stated that through global solidarity, “we can accelerate Africa’s clean energy future through a just transition, creating enduring opportunities for our people.” President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, noted that investing in solar, hydro, and wind power can “drive our continent’s industrial growth and create a cleaner, more prosperous future for all.”

Fostering SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The event underscores the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, a cornerstone of SDG 17. It brings together a diverse coalition to drive collective action.

1. Governments: Leaders from South Africa, the European Commission, Zambia, and Norway are participating to align on policy and public investment.
2. Private Sector: Partners such as Harith General Partners, Octopus Energy, and Genesis Energy Group are engaged to leverage private capital and innovation. Sipho Makhubela, CEO of Harith General Partners, emphasized that investment in renewable energy is a “strategic and economic imperative, driving jobs, innovation and transformative opportunities.”
3. Civil Society and Advocacy: Global Citizen, along with local advocates and humanitarians, will mobilize public support and hold leaders accountable.

Key Stakeholders and Leadership

The summit will feature a distinguished lineup of leaders from various sectors, all committed to advancing the sustainable development agenda in Africa.

Government and Intergovernmental Leadership

• Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa
• Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
• Hakainde Hichilema, President of Zambia
• Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Norway
• Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former UN Under-Secretary-General

Private Sector and Civil Society Engagement

• Sipho Makhubela, CEO, Harith General Partners
• Zoisa North-Bond, CEO, Octopus Energy Generation
• Akinwole Omoboriowo II, Chairman and CEO, Genesis Energy Group
• Nomzamo Mbatha, Actress, Humanitarian, and Global Citizen Ambassador (Host)
• Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Singer-Songwriter and Humanitarian
• Sabrina Dhowre Elba, Global Citizen Europe Board Chair

Strategic Initiatives and Commitments

The summit will feature targeted initiatives designed to translate dialogue into measurable outcomes that support the SDGs.

The “Scaling Up Renewables in Africa” Campaign

Co-hosted by President von der Leyen and President Ramaphosa, this campaign calls for concrete financial pledges to expand clean energy infrastructure. It supports the World Bank and the African Development Bank’s Mission 300, reinforcing a coordinated global effort to achieve SDG 7.

Youth Empowerment through the Reverse Power Panel

A youth-led event, the Reverse Power Panel, will be held on November 17. This session provides a platform for young African innovators and the Scaling Up Renewables in Africa Fellows to present their ideas to government and industry leaders. This initiative promotes youth engagement in achieving the SDGs and fosters innovation (SDG 9) by ensuring that the next generation’s solutions are integrated into the continent’s clean energy transition.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article’s central theme is the “Scaling Up Renewables in Africa” campaign, which directly aligns with ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy. It explicitly mentions the goal of accelerating “renewable energy investments” and addressing the “600 million people across the continent who still lack access to electricity.”
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The focus on a “clean energy future” and building a “diverse, sustainable energy mix that can withstand climate shocks” is a direct measure to combat climate change and its impacts. The transition to renewable energy sources like solar, hydro, and wind power is a key strategy for climate action.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article connects clean energy investment to economic benefits, stating it is a “strategic and economic imperative, driving jobs, innovation and transformative opportunities across our continent.” It also mentions that investing in renewables can “drive our continent’s industrial growth” and lead to “inclusive growth.”
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The summit is described as a collaborative effort, aiming to unite “government leaders, private sector investors, philanthropies, and local advocates.” The text highlights numerous partnerships, such as between the European Commission, the Republic of South Africa, Global Citizen, and private sector entities like Harith General Partners, to achieve common goals.
5. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • The campaign’s objective to “quadruple Africa’s renewable energy capacity by 2030” involves significant investment in building resilient and sustainable energy infrastructure. The article calls for the private sector to “move capital, technology, and innovation to the frontlines of Africa’s clean-energy transition,” which supports the development of sustainable infrastructure.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 7.1: Ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.
   • The article directly addresses this target by highlighting the campaign’s goal of “addressing the unmet energy needs of the 600 million people across the continent who still lack access to electricity.”
2. Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • The campaign’s primary objective is “to quadruple Africa’s renewable energy capacity by 2030,” which is a clear and ambitious goal to increase the share of renewables.
3. Target 7.a: Enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology… and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology.
   • The summit itself, described as a gathering of “world leaders,” “private sector investors,” and “philanthropies,” is a platform for international cooperation. The call for “financial commitments from governments, the private sector, and multilateral development banks” directly supports this target.
4. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.
   • The article exemplifies this target by describing the summit as a partnership between Global Citizen (civil society), Harith General Partners (private sector), and leaders like the President of the European Commission and the President of South Africa (public sector).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator 7.1.1: Proportion of population with access to electricity.
   • The article provides a clear baseline for this indicator by stating there are “600 million people across the continent who still lack access to electricity.” Progress can be measured by the reduction of this number.
2. Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption.
   • The goal “to quadruple Africa’s renewable energy capacity by 2030” serves as a direct, measurable indicator of progress. The increase in renewable capacity can be tracked over time.
3. Indicator 7.a.1: International financial flows to developing countries in support of clean energy… and renewable energy production.
   • The article implies this indicator through its call for “financial commitments from governments, the private sector, and multilateral development banks.” The total value of investments and pledges made during the summit would be a key measure of success.

Summary of Findings

Source: globalcitizen.org