As part of the First CELAC–Africa High-Level Forum, the Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and of Africa met in Bogotá, under the pro tempore presidency of Colombia for CELAC and the presidency of Burundi for the African Union (AU), with the participation of specialists from both regions invited by the Co-Chairs, within the framework of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
The Forum fostered a dialogue aimed at strengthening ties between Latin America and the Caribbean and Africa, based on mutual respect, the sovereign equality of States, solidarity, shared benefit and recognition of the historical and cultural ties that unite both regions.
Representing the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE), Fitzgerald Cantero, Director of Studies, Projects and Information, took part as a panelist in the session “Just Energy Transition and Universal Energy Access to Overcome Energy Poverty: Lessons Learned and Opportunities for CELAC–Africa Bi-Regional Cooperation.”
During his remarks, he noted that one of the most urgent challenges for Latin America and the Caribbean is progress toward clean cooking, a regional goal set for 2035, given that around 70 million people still depend on firewood for cooking and heating every day. In this context, he stressed the importance of replacing inefficient technologies with cleaner solutions such as biogas, LPG, natural gas or distributed generation, depending on the conditions of each territory.
He also highlighted the strategic role of distributed generation both in accelerating the transition toward cleaner technologies and in reducing the remaining share of households without access to electricity in the region.
Finally, Cantero highlighted the enormous potential for cooperation between Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa in renewable energy and in implementing solutions to overcome energy poverty, noting that the exchange of experiences, technologies and public policies between the two regions will be key to advancing toward more inclusive, sustainable and resilient energy systems.
