Electricity access in sub-Saharan Africa spread to 49% of the population in 2022, up from 33% in 2010. Sounds like good news, but consumption tells a different story. Per capita electricity use still averages only 124 kilowatt-hours per year, enough to power just three lightbulbs for about a month. Despite growing access to power, many Africans simply can’t afford to use it.  

But a new solution is emerging — one that can simultaneously raise incomes while expanding access to clean power. WRI Africa Lead for Energy Access Benson Ireri and H.E Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. CBS, governor of Makueni County, Kenya, explain how a concept called “productive use of renewable energy,” or PURE, can correct Africa’s electricity access-use mismatch. Read more.

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Central Chile’s devastating wildfires have killed at least 112 people, left hundreds more missing and destroyed tens of thousands of homes. Higher-than-average temperatures and heat waves across South America are major culprits — and data shows these conditions are worsening. WRI analyzed decades of data and found that wildfires are burning nearly twice as much tree cover today as they did 20 years ago. Read more.

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Half the global population — 3.6 billion people — is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and this figure is expected to rise with global temperatures. Yet communities experiencing the most devastating impacts often lack the resources to protect themselves. A little-known component of the Paris Agreement, called the Global Goal on Adaptation, aims to address this issue by increasing global support and ambition for climate change adaptation. After an eight-year-long stalemate, countries finally defined this goal and rolled out a new framework for it at the 2023 UN climate summit (COP28). But key aspects are still missing. WRI experts weigh in on the Global Goal on Adaptation’s strong points and where more is needed. Read more.

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The European Climate Commission announced a new climate target earlier this week, committing to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 90% below 1990 levels by 2040. This is an important step to bridge the gap between the EU’s existing goal to cut emissions 55% by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. WRI’s Vice President and Regional Director for Europe Stientje van Veldhoven said, “The sooner we decarbonize, the better, so the EU should double down on climate and cut emissions faster, getting to 90% even before the 2040 deadline.” Read more.

From 2010 to 2022, Africa saw a jump in energy access. While this figure would cause celebration in most other places around the world, electricity access means little if consumers cannot afford to use it.