Africa Science Focus

Growing Africa’s green belt

SciDev.Net Season 2 Episode 19

Around 600 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa live without access to electricity. Leading environmentalist Wanjira Mathai says that communities are forced to rely on burning wood and other fuels for heat and for cooking, which damages ecosystems and threatens families’ health. 

Mathai tells Africa Science Focus why energy access is crucial to both development and conserving the continent’s forests and landscapes. And, she tells us what is at stake at this year’s international climate summit, COP27, in Egypt. 

 Africa Science Focus, with Halima Athumani. 

 Learn more about Wanjira Mathai’s career

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