Electricity covering 35% of global energy use by 2035. That is the target the COP31 presidency is pushing, and it is an ambitious one. But African nations are not simply nodding along. They are showing up to the negotiating table with pointed questions and a clear demand: show us how this gets paid for.
The concern is not about the goal itself. Access to affordable, reliable electricity is something African governments have been chasing for decades. The deeper worry is whether this global electrification push will actually support industrial growth on the continent, or whether it will repeat the old pattern of climate commitments that look good on paper but leave Africa holding the short end.
Financing is the sticking point that keeps coming up. African countries want concrete terms before they sign on, not vague pledges to be sorted out later. How the money flows, who controls it, and whether it serves development as much as it serves emissions targets are the questions shaping Africa's position right now. The answers will say a lot about whether this push is a genuine partnership or just another ask.
Originally published by AllAfrica.