France to invest billions in African renewable energy projects

The COP21 climate summit is now fully underway: the delegations from 195 countries represented here are meeting face to face, they’re taking decisions: who is responsible for what, who is gonna pay for what. At the back of their minds, they know that they need to come out of this summit with a deal they can sell back home. And that means making something which is also good for their economies as well as for the climate. On the sidelines of the summit, French President Francois Hollande met leaders from countries including Chad, Niger and Egypt. Hollande said that in the coming years France would invest billions of euros in African renewable energy projects. “A very substantial part of our effort will benefit Africa, particularly the electrification of the continent without waiting for 2020,” said Hollande. “Today I can announce that France will dedicate 6 billion euros to the project between 2016 and 2020.” Hollande said developed countries have a responsibility after emitting greenhouses gases for decades. He said that’s left many African nations struggling with droughts, flooding and migration.