Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has reiterated Tanzania’s commitment to a fair and inclusive climate transition, calling for urgent global action to increase access to clean cooking energy across the African continent.
Speaking virtually from Chamwino State House in Dodoma during a summit of Heads of State and Government on Climate Change and Just Transition, President Samia underscored the pressing need to prioritise energy solutions that serve Africa’s underserved populations.
The summit, held on April 23, 2025, brought together leaders from 17 nations and was co-hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
“Over 950 million people in Africa still lack access to clean cooking energy,” Dr Samia said.
He noted that the situation has far-reaching implications on health, the environment, and socio-economic development.
She reaffirmed Tanzania’s national target of ensuring that 80 per cent of its population adopts clean cooking energy by 2034.
The high-level dialogue forms part of ongoing global preparations ahead of the next United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), slated for November 2025 in Belém, Brazil.
It builds on discussions from previous COPs hosted by the United Arab Emirates in 2023 and Azerbaijan in 2024.
President Samia’s remarks added weight to calls for a just energy transition that recognises the unique challenges faced by developing nations, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa.
She urged for increased international cooperation and investment to bridge existing energy gaps and accelerate the shift to sustainable alternatives.
The summit also served as a platform for participating nations to align their national strategies with the goals of the Paris Agreement and to discuss implementation pathways for equitable climate resilience.
