Europe Faces Criticism Over Renewable Energy Ties with North Africa
A recent report by Greenpeace claims that European countries are utilizing renewable energy projects in Morocco and Egypt to "greenwash" their own economies, while leaving these nations dependent on imported fossil fuels. The report highlights how European-backed renewable projects hinder Morocco and Egypt's capacity to reduce their own carbon footprints and often result in the displacement of local populations and significant water consumption, exacerbating existing shortages.
As both countries leverage their renewable potential to supply Europe with energy, they continue to import large quantities of oil and gas to sustain their economies. Following the escalation of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, European energy firms heavily invested in Egypt to access its gas reserves, further contributing to environmental degradation through excessive drilling, according to Greenpeace.
Experts from the Atlantic Council stress that Egypt needs foreign investment to develop its renewable infrastructure. In Morocco, the energy sector is witnessing investments, including TotalEnergies' $10.6 billion project for green hydrogen. Greenpeace advocates for a shift in responsibility from the global north to enhance domestic renewable energy capacities rather than transferring environmental burdens to the global south.
Morocco