Article 6 revenues could help close African energy access gap, analysis finds
A new report estimated that Article 6 carbon credit revenues during the 2030s could be comparable to the yearly funding needed for universal clean cooking or electricity access in Africa. It also suggested that middle-income developing countries may capture most of the benefits.
The analysis connects revenue from international carbon markets under Article 6 with Africa’s energy-access gap. It estimates that during the 2030s, such carbon-credit income could be similar in scale to the yearly funding needed to bring clean cooking or electricity to everyone in Africa. It also indicates that middle-income developing countries may receive most of the gains. The finding places carbon markets within broader questions about climate finance and development, including whether credit revenue reaches the places with the largest energy-access needs.
If realized, such revenues could affect African households and communities by expanding access to cleaner cooking and electricity, with potential health, time-saving, and economic benefits. Governments and project developers may gain new funding options, while middle-income countries could benefit more than lower-income ones, raising questions about distribution. The actual impact would depend on how carbon-market rules and revenue-sharing are designed and implemented.