The G20 nations acknowledge the vital role of energy efficiency in driving sustainable growth and meeting Paris Agreement targets, as well as prioritising enhanced energy productivity and increased investment in energy-efficient solutions.

This will be part of the discussions of the G20 Energy Transition Working Group at Zimbali, north of Durban, this week.

Deputy Electricity and Energy Minister Samantha Jane Graham-Maré says in Africa, there are over 500 million people who do not have access to any form of energy.

Speaking at a conference on the sidelines of the Working Group meeting, Graham-Maré says it is very concerning that a large number of women and children die because of unclean cooking methods.

“You’ve got over a billion Africans who use unclean cooking facilities to make their food. Clean cooking is also one of our G20 priorities, and it’s something we are focusing very strongly on not just in South Africa but throughout Africa.”

“Access to energy is something we’re also focusing on. But what we’re saying is that if we can create an energy-efficient mindset. We don’t have to create as much energy. So we’re talking about saving by 2063 about 40 gigawatts of electricity that don’t have to be produced if we start using energy more efficiently,” adds Graham-Maré.