{"id":285464,"date":"2023-10-28T16:33:21","date_gmt":"2023-10-28T14:33:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=285464"},"modified":"2023-10-28T16:33:24","modified_gmt":"2023-10-28T14:33:24","slug":"the-message-of-alex-epstein-to-leaders-at-africa-energy-week-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=285464","title":{"rendered":"The Message of Alex Epstein to Leaders at Africa Energy Week 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"838\" data-attachment-id=\"285488\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=285488\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/046844868_10156249666194285_5025283655270924288_o.webp?fit=1100%2C1274&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1100,1274\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"046844868_10156249666194285_5025283655270924288_o\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/046844868_10156249666194285_5025283655270924288_o.webp?fit=723%2C838&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/046844868_10156249666194285_5025283655270924288_o.webp?resize=723%2C838&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285488\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/046844868_10156249666194285_5025283655270924288_o.webp?resize=884%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 884w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/046844868_10156249666194285_5025283655270924288_o.webp?resize=259%2C300&amp;ssl=1 259w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/046844868_10156249666194285_5025283655270924288_o.webp?resize=768%2C889&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/046844868_10156249666194285_5025283655270924288_o.webp?w=1100&amp;ssl=1 1100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>For the sake of Africans and the rest of the world, African leaders need to confidently reject the net-zero movement and embrace energy freedom\u2014including fossil fuel freedom. Since 1980, India&#8217;s fossil fuel use has increased by >700% and China&#8217;s by >600%.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"407\" data-attachment-id=\"285486\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=285486\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0Sequence-06.00_01_03_14.Still020.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1920,1080\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"0Sequence-06.00_01_03_14.Still020\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0Sequence-06.00_01_03_14.Still020.jpg?fit=723%2C407&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0Sequence-06.00_01_03_14.Still020.jpg?resize=723%2C407&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285486\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0Sequence-06.00_01_03_14.Still020.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0Sequence-06.00_01_03_14.Still020.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0Sequence-06.00_01_03_14.Still020.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0Sequence-06.00_01_03_14.Still020.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0Sequence-06.00_01_03_14.Still020.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0Sequence-06.00_01_03_14.Still020.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0Sequence-06.00_01_03_14.Still020.jpg?w=1446&amp;ssl=1 1446w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From <a href=\"https:\/\/alexepstein.substack.com\/p\/my-message-to-leaders-at-africa-energy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em><strong>Substack<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By <a href=\"https:\/\/substack.com\/@alexepstein\">ALEX EPSTEIN<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"482\" data-attachment-id=\"285466\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=285466\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-786.png?fit=1600%2C1065&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1065\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"image-786\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-786.png?fit=723%2C482&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-786.png?resize=723%2C482&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-786.png?resize=1024%2C682&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-786.png?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-786.png?resize=768%2C511&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-786.png?resize=1536%2C1022&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-786.png?resize=1200%2C799&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-786.png?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-786.png?w=1446&amp;ssl=1 1446w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>My message:&nbsp;<strong>For the sake of Africans and the rest of the world, African leaders need to confidently reject the net-zero movement and embrace energy freedom\u2014including fossil fuel freedom<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Why African leaders need to confidently reject the net-zero movement<br><br><strong>\u2013 Africa needs rapid growth in fossil fuel use, the opposite of net-zero, to develop and prosper.<br>\u2013 The morally bankrupt and weak net-zero leadership cannot withstand a confident African challenge.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>3 facts that prove Africans need fossil fuels to prosper<br><br>1. Every prosperous country has developed using fossil fuels<br>2. Even prosperous countries can&#8217;t replace fossil fuels with solar and wind<br>3. Fossil-fueled development isn&#8217;t causing a climate crisis, it&#8217;s making humanity much safer from climate<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1. Every prosperous country has developed using fossil fuels.<\/strong><br><br>No poor country has been able to develop to the point of prosperity without massive fossil fuel use.<br><br>The reason is that development requires energy, and fossil fuels are a uniquely cost-effective, including scalable, source of energy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Africa is the world&#8217;s poorest region.&nbsp;<strong>Most Africans want rapid development and with it, prosperity.<br><br>This is absolutely achievable. But only by using the proven practices every once-poor place has used to develop and prosper.<\/strong><br><br>One such practice is large-scale fossil fuel use.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In recent decades China and India have used large amounts of low-cost, reliable energy from fossil fuels to rapidly develop.<br><br>Since 1980, India&#8217;s fossil fuel use has increased by &gt;700% and China&#8217;s by &gt;600%.<br><br>India&#8217;s life expectancy increased by 17 years and China&#8217;s by 14!<a href=\"https:\/\/alexepstein.substack.com\/p\/my-message-to-leaders-at-africa-energy#footnote-1-138008817\">1<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1f86c9bc-9ce5-4bd9-af0e-07126663366c_1600x1043.png\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"472\" data-attachment-id=\"285471\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=285471\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/01f86c9bc-9ce5-4bd9-af0e-07126663366c_1600x1043.jpg?fit=1600%2C1043&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1043\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"01f86c9bc-9ce5-4bd9-af0e-07126663366c_1600x1043\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/01f86c9bc-9ce5-4bd9-af0e-07126663366c_1600x1043.jpg?fit=723%2C472&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/01f86c9bc-9ce5-4bd9-af0e-07126663366c_1600x1043.jpg?resize=723%2C472&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285471\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/01f86c9bc-9ce5-4bd9-af0e-07126663366c_1600x1043.jpg?resize=1024%2C668&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/01f86c9bc-9ce5-4bd9-af0e-07126663366c_1600x1043.jpg?resize=300%2C196&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/01f86c9bc-9ce5-4bd9-af0e-07126663366c_1600x1043.jpg?resize=768%2C501&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/01f86c9bc-9ce5-4bd9-af0e-07126663366c_1600x1043.jpg?resize=1536%2C1001&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/01f86c9bc-9ce5-4bd9-af0e-07126663366c_1600x1043.jpg?resize=1200%2C782&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/01f86c9bc-9ce5-4bd9-af0e-07126663366c_1600x1043.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/01f86c9bc-9ce5-4bd9-af0e-07126663366c_1600x1043.jpg?w=1446&amp;ssl=1 1446w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fossil fuels are so uniquely good at providing low-cost, reliable energy for developing nations that even nations with little or no fossil fuel resources have used fossil fuels to develop and prosper. E.g. South Korea (83% fossil fuels), Japan (85% fossil fuels), Singapore (99% fossil fuels).<a href=\"https:\/\/alexepstein.substack.com\/p\/my-message-to-leaders-at-africa-energy#footnote-2-138008817\">2<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"472\" data-attachment-id=\"285473\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=285473\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0361e17fc-2b7d-4a55-b369-a408564911df_3058x1995.png?fit=3058%2C1995&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"3058,1995\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"0361e17fc-2b7d-4a55-b369-a408564911df_3058x1995\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0361e17fc-2b7d-4a55-b369-a408564911df_3058x1995.png?fit=723%2C472&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0361e17fc-2b7d-4a55-b369-a408564911df_3058x1995.png?resize=723%2C472&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285473\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0361e17fc-2b7d-4a55-b369-a408564911df_3058x1995.png?resize=1024%2C668&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0361e17fc-2b7d-4a55-b369-a408564911df_3058x1995.png?resize=300%2C196&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0361e17fc-2b7d-4a55-b369-a408564911df_3058x1995.png?resize=768%2C501&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0361e17fc-2b7d-4a55-b369-a408564911df_3058x1995.png?resize=1536%2C1002&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0361e17fc-2b7d-4a55-b369-a408564911df_3058x1995.png?resize=2048%2C1336&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0361e17fc-2b7d-4a55-b369-a408564911df_3058x1995.png?resize=1200%2C783&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0361e17fc-2b7d-4a55-b369-a408564911df_3058x1995.png?w=1446&amp;ssl=1 1446w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0361e17fc-2b7d-4a55-b369-a408564911df_3058x1995.png?w=2169&amp;ssl=1 2169w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The obvious path for African development and prosperity is to use fossil fuel whenever it is the most cost-effective option, which is most of the time, and certainly to responsibly produce the significant fossil fuel resources that exist in Africa.<br><br>It is deadly for Africa to forego fossil fuels.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2. Even prosperous countries can&#8217;t replace fossil fuels with solar and wind.<\/strong><br><br>Africa is being told to develop without growing fossil fuel use and to use mostly solar and wind instead.<br><br>But given that even very prosperous places can\u2019t use mostly solar and wind, this is a death sentence for African development.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Over the last two decades, the prosperous world has been trying to use more and more solar and wind energy.<br><br><strong>Africans should take note of the ominous results of this experiment so far: higher prices and reliability declines even at relatively low levels of solar and wind use<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Despite claims that solar and wind are rapidly replacing fossil fuels, they provide less than 5% of world energy\u2014only electricity, \u2155 of energy\u2014and, crucially, even that small percentage depends on huge subsidies and reliable (mostly fossil-fueled) power plants.<a href=\"https:\/\/alexepstein.substack.com\/p\/my-message-to-leaders-at-africa-energy#footnote-3-138008817\">3<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Solar and wind\u2019s basic problem is unreliability, to the point they can go near zero at any time. Thus they don\u2019t replace reliable power, they parasitize it. This is why they need huge subsidies and why no grid is near 50% solar and wind without parasitism on reliable neighbors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"407\" data-attachment-id=\"285475\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=285475\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0e3578540-5d96-46f1-9f44-0995efa65991_1600x900.jpg?fit=1600%2C900&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1600,900\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"0e3578540-5d96-46f1-9f44-0995efa65991_1600x900\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0e3578540-5d96-46f1-9f44-0995efa65991_1600x900.jpg?fit=723%2C407&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0e3578540-5d96-46f1-9f44-0995efa65991_1600x900.jpg?resize=723%2C407&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0e3578540-5d96-46f1-9f44-0995efa65991_1600x900.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0e3578540-5d96-46f1-9f44-0995efa65991_1600x900.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0e3578540-5d96-46f1-9f44-0995efa65991_1600x900.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0e3578540-5d96-46f1-9f44-0995efa65991_1600x900.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0e3578540-5d96-46f1-9f44-0995efa65991_1600x900.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0e3578540-5d96-46f1-9f44-0995efa65991_1600x900.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0e3578540-5d96-46f1-9f44-0995efa65991_1600x900.jpg?w=1446&amp;ssl=1 1446w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The popular idea that we can use mostly or only solar and wind with sufficient battery backup is not being tried anywhere because it\u2019s absurd. Batteries are so expensive that just 3 days of global backup using Elon Musk\u2019s Megapacks would cost $570 trillion, about 6X global GDP!<a href=\"https:\/\/alexepstein.substack.com\/p\/my-message-to-leaders-at-africa-energy#footnote-4-138008817\">4<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"407\" data-attachment-id=\"285477\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=285477\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/038cb140f-4d39-4e90-8c36-a34577e6f19e_1600x900.jpg?fit=1600%2C900&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1600,900\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"038cb140f-4d39-4e90-8c36-a34577e6f19e_1600x900\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/038cb140f-4d39-4e90-8c36-a34577e6f19e_1600x900.jpg?fit=723%2C407&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/038cb140f-4d39-4e90-8c36-a34577e6f19e_1600x900.jpg?resize=723%2C407&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285477\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/038cb140f-4d39-4e90-8c36-a34577e6f19e_1600x900.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/038cb140f-4d39-4e90-8c36-a34577e6f19e_1600x900.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/038cb140f-4d39-4e90-8c36-a34577e6f19e_1600x900.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/038cb140f-4d39-4e90-8c36-a34577e6f19e_1600x900.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/038cb140f-4d39-4e90-8c36-a34577e6f19e_1600x900.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/038cb140f-4d39-4e90-8c36-a34577e6f19e_1600x900.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/038cb140f-4d39-4e90-8c36-a34577e6f19e_1600x900.jpg?w=1446&amp;ssl=1 1446w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consider that Germany, to get 37% of its electricity from unreliable solar and wind, has doubled its prices\u2014now 3 times US prices. And Germany can only get away with 37% because it has neighbors to bail it out when solar and wind fall short. Impoverished Africa can\u2019t prosper on this path.<a href=\"https:\/\/alexepstein.substack.com\/p\/my-message-to-leaders-at-africa-energy#footnote-5-138008817\">5<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"407\" data-attachment-id=\"285478\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=285478\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/008a613c0d-1d49-496a-8e12-1cf3c81a2bb2_1600x900.jpg?fit=1600%2C900&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1600,900\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"008a613c0d-1d49-496a-8e12-1cf3c81a2bb2_1600x900\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/008a613c0d-1d49-496a-8e12-1cf3c81a2bb2_1600x900.jpg?fit=723%2C407&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/008a613c0d-1d49-496a-8e12-1cf3c81a2bb2_1600x900.jpg?resize=723%2C407&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285478\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/008a613c0d-1d49-496a-8e12-1cf3c81a2bb2_1600x900.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/008a613c0d-1d49-496a-8e12-1cf3c81a2bb2_1600x900.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/008a613c0d-1d49-496a-8e12-1cf3c81a2bb2_1600x900.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/008a613c0d-1d49-496a-8e12-1cf3c81a2bb2_1600x900.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/008a613c0d-1d49-496a-8e12-1cf3c81a2bb2_1600x900.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/008a613c0d-1d49-496a-8e12-1cf3c81a2bb2_1600x900.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/008a613c0d-1d49-496a-8e12-1cf3c81a2bb2_1600x900.jpg?w=1446&amp;ssl=1 1446w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>When net-zero advocates say Africa should \u201cleapfrog\u201d fossil fuels with solar and wind just as many have \u201cleapfrogged\u201d landlines with cell phones, they are making an absurd analogy.<br><br>Cell phones can actually replace landlines for most purposes. Solar and wind can\u2019t replace fossil fuels.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Justified by net-zero goals, South African bank FirstRand has announced to stop funding coal mines and coal power plants. In a situation where South Africa&#8217;s power grid is struggling to keep the lights on. This is hurting the economy but it also makes the poorest South Africans suffer most of all.<a href=\"https:\/\/alexepstein.substack.com\/p\/my-message-to-leaders-at-africa-energy#footnote-6-138008817\">6<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"407\" data-attachment-id=\"285480\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=285480\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0024bbf02b-0518-470d-9166-6c9580f28076_1600x900.jpg?fit=1600%2C900&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1600,900\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"0024bbf02b-0518-470d-9166-6c9580f28076_1600x900\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0024bbf02b-0518-470d-9166-6c9580f28076_1600x900.jpg?fit=723%2C407&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0024bbf02b-0518-470d-9166-6c9580f28076_1600x900.jpg?resize=723%2C407&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0024bbf02b-0518-470d-9166-6c9580f28076_1600x900.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0024bbf02b-0518-470d-9166-6c9580f28076_1600x900.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0024bbf02b-0518-470d-9166-6c9580f28076_1600x900.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0024bbf02b-0518-470d-9166-6c9580f28076_1600x900.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0024bbf02b-0518-470d-9166-6c9580f28076_1600x900.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0024bbf02b-0518-470d-9166-6c9580f28076_1600x900.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0024bbf02b-0518-470d-9166-6c9580f28076_1600x900.jpg?w=1446&amp;ssl=1 1446w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Given that every prosperous place on Earth has depended on and continues to depend on massive fossil fuel use, and that attempts to replace fossil fuels with solar and wind are failing, the push for Africa to adopt net-zero\u2014aka fossil fuel elimination\u2014is a death sentence for African development.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If net-zero is a death sentence for African development, why is it so popular around the world?<br><br>Because&nbsp;<strong>the world has a deadly moral obsession with eliminating human climate impact at all costs\u2014including, disgustingly, the cost of destroying Africa\u2019s chance to prosper<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The justification for pursuing net-zero at all costs is that we have a climate crisis that\u2019s becoming a climate apocalypse that will hurt Africa most of all. So Africa must join others in going net-zero.<br><br>But others aren\u2019t actually going net-zero and there\u2019s not a climate crisis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>3. Fossil-fueled development isn&#8217;t causing a climate crisis, it&#8217;s making humanity much safer from climate<\/strong><br><br>While fossil fuel use has a warming impact on climate, this impact is minor compared to the incredible ability fossil fuels give us to master all forms of climate danger.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Myth: We are more endangered than ever by climate because of fossil fuels&#8217; CO2 emissions.<br><br>Truth: We have a 98% decline in climate disaster deaths due to our enormous fossil-fueled climate mastery abilities: Heating or cooling, infrastructure-building, irrigation, crop transport.<a href=\"https:\/\/alexepstein.substack.com\/p\/my-message-to-leaders-at-africa-energy#footnote-7-138008817\">7<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"472\" data-attachment-id=\"285482\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=285482\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0ba74a8eb-4eeb-48bc-9526-ecf7895f86bb_6108x3983.png?fit=6108%2C3983&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"6108,3983\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"0ba74a8eb-4eeb-48bc-9526-ecf7895f86bb_6108x3983\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0ba74a8eb-4eeb-48bc-9526-ecf7895f86bb_6108x3983.png?fit=723%2C472&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0ba74a8eb-4eeb-48bc-9526-ecf7895f86bb_6108x3983.png?resize=723%2C472&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285482\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0ba74a8eb-4eeb-48bc-9526-ecf7895f86bb_6108x3983.png?resize=1024%2C668&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0ba74a8eb-4eeb-48bc-9526-ecf7895f86bb_6108x3983.png?resize=300%2C196&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0ba74a8eb-4eeb-48bc-9526-ecf7895f86bb_6108x3983.png?resize=768%2C501&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0ba74a8eb-4eeb-48bc-9526-ecf7895f86bb_6108x3983.png?resize=1536%2C1002&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0ba74a8eb-4eeb-48bc-9526-ecf7895f86bb_6108x3983.png?resize=2048%2C1335&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0ba74a8eb-4eeb-48bc-9526-ecf7895f86bb_6108x3983.png?resize=1200%2C783&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0ba74a8eb-4eeb-48bc-9526-ecf7895f86bb_6108x3983.png?w=1446&amp;ssl=1 1446w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0ba74a8eb-4eeb-48bc-9526-ecf7895f86bb_6108x3983.png?w=2169&amp;ssl=1 2169w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Africans, like the rest of the world, are far safer than climate than they were 100 years ago. If they can use fossil fuels to develop and prosper, they\u2019ll be safer still as the world slowly warms. And note that even in Africa cold-related deaths still exceed heat-related deaths.<a href=\"https:\/\/alexepstein.substack.com\/p\/my-message-to-leaders-at-africa-energy#footnote-8-138008817\">8<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"407\" data-attachment-id=\"285483\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=285483\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/083824cf1-b76a-4d1d-bd29-300daeb3c0e7_1600x900.jpg?fit=1600%2C900&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1600,900\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"083824cf1-b76a-4d1d-bd29-300daeb3c0e7_1600x900\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/083824cf1-b76a-4d1d-bd29-300daeb3c0e7_1600x900.jpg?fit=723%2C407&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/083824cf1-b76a-4d1d-bd29-300daeb3c0e7_1600x900.jpg?resize=723%2C407&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285483\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/083824cf1-b76a-4d1d-bd29-300daeb3c0e7_1600x900.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/083824cf1-b76a-4d1d-bd29-300daeb3c0e7_1600x900.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/083824cf1-b76a-4d1d-bd29-300daeb3c0e7_1600x900.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/083824cf1-b76a-4d1d-bd29-300daeb3c0e7_1600x900.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/083824cf1-b76a-4d1d-bd29-300daeb3c0e7_1600x900.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/083824cf1-b76a-4d1d-bd29-300daeb3c0e7_1600x900.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/083824cf1-b76a-4d1d-bd29-300daeb3c0e7_1600x900.jpg?w=1446&amp;ssl=1 1446w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The obvious path forward for Africa is energy freedom: the freedom to produce and use all cost-effective sources of energy\u2014including, essentially, fossil fuels\u2014which means rejecting all net-zero targets.<br><br>Is this possible in the face of international opposition? Absolutely.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The morally bankrupt and weak net-zero leadership cannot withstand a confident African challenge<br><br><\/strong>While the international net-zero movement may be economically and politically powerful, it is morally and psychologically weak.<br><br>It will crumble if Africans confidently reject it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For years African leaders, instead of confidently rejecting net-zero like the plague (it\u2019s actually far more dangerous than the plague) have cooperated with the net-zero agenda, signing onto net-zero commitments\u2014above all the Paris Agreement.<br><br>This has been a huge mistake.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A major reason African leaders have cooperated with the net-zero movement is fear of repercussions from this powerful global movement that can punish African nations by cutting off aid, discouraging financing, and discouraging trade.<br><br>Such cooperation is deadly\u2014and unnecessary.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Africans must understand&nbsp;<strong>a key psychological fact about leaders in the US and many other prosperous nations: They\u2019re terrified of challenges from 2 types of people above all: the poor and the nonwhite, both of whom they falsely claim to support<\/strong>.<br><br>You can capitalize on this fear.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Imagine if African leaders stood up and said:&nbsp;<strong>we have an absolute right to use all forms of energy, including fossil fuels, to develop and prosper, and anyone who tries to deny us this right is anti-poor, anti-black, and anti-human<\/strong>.<br><br>Joe Biden et al would have nothing to say.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In recent years I have been very happy to see African leaders stand up a little to net-zero, usually in the form of advocating a \u201cjust transition.\u201d<br><br>But this is still way too weak.&nbsp;<strong>Talking of a \u201cjust transition\u201d still accepts the deadly idea of a rapid transition to net-zero.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The idea of a \u201cjust transition\u201d to net-zero usually means some combo of: Africa gets to use a little fossil fuel, and the prosperous world pledges to rapidly reduce its emissions plus give Africans some handouts if Africa doesn\u2019t challenge net-zero overall.<br><br>This is terrible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>For Africa to accept any limitation whatsoever on its fossil fuel production and use is immoral and deadly.<\/strong><br><br>And it\u2019s not in Africa\u2019s interest for the prosperous world to rapidly go net-zero: that will absolutely destroy the global economy, including any meaningful aid to Africa.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Africans need to&nbsp;<strong>stop talking about a \u201cjust energy transition\u201d and instead embrace the concepts of \u201cenergy expansion\u201d and \u201cenergy evolution.\u201d<\/strong>&nbsp;This means using more energy and finding ever-better ways of producing energy. But absolutely not ruining Africa by limiting fossil fuels.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An essential step to African leaders standing up against net-zero is to&nbsp;<strong>announce ASAP a withdrawal from the irredeemably immoral Paris Agreement, which commits African nations to rejecting the fossil fuels they need to develop and prosper<\/strong>.<br><br>This should happen at COP 28.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If African leaders find themselves threatened behind the scenes by wealthy and powerful net-zero leaders, there is an easy solution: Expose the threats publicly<\/strong>. Imagine what virtue-signaling weasels like Antonio Guterres will do if they are exposed for threatening Africans.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To be most effective at fighting the net-zero movement, you must recognize that this wealthy movement\u2019s hostility toward African fossil fuel use is deeply racist. By saying \u201cfossil fuels for me but not for thee\u201d it\u2019s implying that dark-skinned people don\u2019t need a lot of energy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Observe that net-zero advocates often fawn over the idea of Africans using solar to power some lights or a radio\u2014as if that\u2019s anywhere near enough energy. It\u2019s because they believe that dark-skinned people don\u2019t really want a modern life, so they don\u2019t really need much energy.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I believe that the color of your skin has nothing to do with the content of your mind and with what you want out of life. I believe that most people, when given the choice, want more energy and more progress. I know Africa is full of ambitious people who want these things.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To summarize:<br><br>\u2013 The net-zero movement is destroying the fossil fuel freedom Africans need to develop and prosper.<br>\u2013 The morally weak net-zero leadership can\u2019t withstand a confident African challenge.<br><br>It\u2019s time to challenge them, and that includes withdrawing from the Paris Agreement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>I will do everything I can to help African leaders successfully fight the net-zero movement. I will do it because it\u2019s a matter of justice, and because I and everyone I care about will be much better off in a world where net-zero has been defeated.<\/strong><br><br>So let\u2019s fight, together.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For the sake of Africans and the rest of the world, African leaders need to confidently reject the net-zero movement and embrace energy freedom\u2014including fossil fuel freedom. Since 1980, India&#8217;s fossil fuel use has increased by >700% and China&#8217;s by >600%. From Substack By ALEX EPSTEIN My message:&nbsp;For the sake of Africans and the rest [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":285488,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"For the sake of Africans and the rest of the world, African leaders need to confidently reject the net-zero movement and embrace energy freedom\u2014including fossil fuel freedom. Since 1980, India's fossil fuel use has increased by >700% and China's by >600%.","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691820276,691824068,691818656,691824069,691818886,691818154,691819094,691824070],"class_list":["post-285464","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-africa","tag-african-leaders","tag-electricity","tag-energy-week-2023","tag-fossil-fuel","tag-net-zero","tag-renewable-green-energy","tag-worlds-poorest-region","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/046844868_10156249666194285_5025283655270924288_o.webp?fit=1100%2C1274&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1cgg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":291177,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=291177","url_meta":{"origin":285464,"position":0},"title":"African Energy Chamber to COP28: We Want Fossil Fuels!","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"12\/13\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Oil and gas will play an instrumental role in Africa\u2019s economy for decades to come, and as such, African producers will not agree to any phase-out of these resources.","rel":"","context":"In \"Africa\"","block_context":{"text":"Africa","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=africa"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/01721394fe8ee0480.jpg?fit=1200%2C849&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/01721394fe8ee0480.jpg?fit=1200%2C849&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/01721394fe8ee0480.jpg?fit=1200%2C849&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, 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alarmism","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=climate-alarmism"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0-ChatGPT-Energy-Apartheid-Denying-Africa-Tech-Future.png?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0-ChatGPT-Energy-Apartheid-Denying-Africa-Tech-Future.png?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0-ChatGPT-Energy-Apartheid-Denying-Africa-Tech-Future.png?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0-ChatGPT-Energy-Apartheid-Denying-Africa-Tech-Future.png?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0-ChatGPT-Energy-Apartheid-Denying-Africa-Tech-Future.png?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":416718,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=416718","url_meta":{"origin":285464,"position":2},"title":"African Energy Chamber to G20: Fossil Fuel Future","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"12\/09\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The recently concluded G20 Summit in Johannesburg barely mentioned climate change, just another victory for energy and climate realism in a world valuing affordability.","rel":"","context":"In \"Africa\"","block_context":{"text":"Africa","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=africa"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0AQPGT79hfv5OXwEyA7OaDTW3o1JEbk0Uj3inoVh5rXy2cVGvnLAz1K2kGKq2zzOI2PthQ5wlRB_3vtrb-PDHE63wl24u_QR7UbYPNEFGlRgU4910rnDJGuV-QUwJ73E.jpeg?fit=1200%2C677&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0AQPGT79hfv5OXwEyA7OaDTW3o1JEbk0Uj3inoVh5rXy2cVGvnLAz1K2kGKq2zzOI2PthQ5wlRB_3vtrb-PDHE63wl24u_QR7UbYPNEFGlRgU4910rnDJGuV-QUwJ73E.jpeg?fit=1200%2C677&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0AQPGT79hfv5OXwEyA7OaDTW3o1JEbk0Uj3inoVh5rXy2cVGvnLAz1K2kGKq2zzOI2PthQ5wlRB_3vtrb-PDHE63wl24u_QR7UbYPNEFGlRgU4910rnDJGuV-QUwJ73E.jpeg?fit=1200%2C677&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, 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While the rest of the world marches toward prosperity, Africa is being forced into a trajectory of destitution. The data is an indictment of the modern \u201cgreen\u201d agenda.","rel":"","context":"In \"Africa\"","block_context":{"text":"Africa","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=africa"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AQNFv6wKhpi99LEMJWyVj0OLICRaha9W7BF1rkUpB8Tndf05qgVmdmHF7hjDt4Gd5277-qZYe1RApRZQZomnH6KRkTs0HWltZnaRFahpjoA8HbiQ_bc7AQJpMQEt6Ea-y66hBnSNCYe8oi5S9OWqTlVRpiq_jg.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AQNFv6wKhpi99LEMJWyVj0OLICRaha9W7BF1rkUpB8Tndf05qgVmdmHF7hjDt4Gd5277-qZYe1RApRZQZomnH6KRkTs0HWltZnaRFahpjoA8HbiQ_bc7AQJpMQEt6Ea-y66hBnSNCYe8oi5S9OWqTlVRpiq_jg.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AQNFv6wKhpi99LEMJWyVj0OLICRaha9W7BF1rkUpB8Tndf05qgVmdmHF7hjDt4Gd5277-qZYe1RApRZQZomnH6KRkTs0HWltZnaRFahpjoA8HbiQ_bc7AQJpMQEt6Ea-y66hBnSNCYe8oi5S9OWqTlVRpiq_jg.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AQNFv6wKhpi99LEMJWyVj0OLICRaha9W7BF1rkUpB8Tndf05qgVmdmHF7hjDt4Gd5277-qZYe1RApRZQZomnH6KRkTs0HWltZnaRFahpjoA8HbiQ_bc7AQJpMQEt6Ea-y66hBnSNCYe8oi5S9OWqTlVRpiq_jg.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AQNFv6wKhpi99LEMJWyVj0OLICRaha9W7BF1rkUpB8Tndf05qgVmdmHF7hjDt4Gd5277-qZYe1RApRZQZomnH6KRkTs0HWltZnaRFahpjoA8HbiQ_bc7AQJpMQEt6Ea-y66hBnSNCYe8oi5S9OWqTlVRpiq_jg.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":409181,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=409181","url_meta":{"origin":285464,"position":4},"title":"Nonprofits Cruelly Normalize Poverty for Climate Virtue","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"10\/20\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The last two decades should have been a period of accelerating economic development for Africa, South America and much of Asia. Discoveries of abundant oil and gas supplies offered a rescue from poverty, industrial stagnation and poor access to electricity and other basic services.","rel":"","context":"In \"African Energy Chamber (AEC)\"","block_context":{"text":"African Energy Chamber (AEC)","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=african-energy-chamber-aec-2"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AQNFv6wKhpi99LEMJWyVj0OLICRaha9W7BF1rkUpB8Tndf05qgVmdmHF7hjDt4Gd5277-qZYe1RApRZQZomnH6KRkTs0HWltZnaRFahpjoA8HbiQ_bc7AQJpMQEt6Ea-y66hBnSNCYe8oi5S9OWqTlVRpiq_jg-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AQNFv6wKhpi99LEMJWyVj0OLICRaha9W7BF1rkUpB8Tndf05qgVmdmHF7hjDt4Gd5277-qZYe1RApRZQZomnH6KRkTs0HWltZnaRFahpjoA8HbiQ_bc7AQJpMQEt6Ea-y66hBnSNCYe8oi5S9OWqTlVRpiq_jg-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AQNFv6wKhpi99LEMJWyVj0OLICRaha9W7BF1rkUpB8Tndf05qgVmdmHF7hjDt4Gd5277-qZYe1RApRZQZomnH6KRkTs0HWltZnaRFahpjoA8HbiQ_bc7AQJpMQEt6Ea-y66hBnSNCYe8oi5S9OWqTlVRpiq_jg-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AQNFv6wKhpi99LEMJWyVj0OLICRaha9W7BF1rkUpB8Tndf05qgVmdmHF7hjDt4Gd5277-qZYe1RApRZQZomnH6KRkTs0HWltZnaRFahpjoA8HbiQ_bc7AQJpMQEt6Ea-y66hBnSNCYe8oi5S9OWqTlVRpiq_jg-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AQNFv6wKhpi99LEMJWyVj0OLICRaha9W7BF1rkUpB8Tndf05qgVmdmHF7hjDt4Gd5277-qZYe1RApRZQZomnH6KRkTs0HWltZnaRFahpjoA8HbiQ_bc7AQJpMQEt6Ea-y66hBnSNCYe8oi5S9OWqTlVRpiq_jg-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":287204,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=287204","url_meta":{"origin":285464,"position":5},"title":"Africa Doesn\u2019t Need Western Elites\u2019 Meaningless Climate Policies","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"11\/08\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"By Vijay Jayaraj African priorities differ from those of Europe and North America. Among the Dark Continent\u2019s most daunting challenges are poverty, malnutrition, lack of healthcare and proper education, unemployment, inferior transportation infrastructure and underdeveloped technologies for energy, information and communications. Therefore, Africans do not have the option to adopt\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Africa\"","block_context":{"text":"Africa","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=africa"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/00oilandgas-energymixreport.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/00oilandgas-energymixreport.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/00oilandgas-energymixreport.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/00oilandgas-energymixreport.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/00oilandgas-energymixreport.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/285464","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=285464"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/285464\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":285490,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/285464\/revisions\/285490"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/285488"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=285464"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=285464"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=285464"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}