Take action on climate change at .
In this perspective-shifting talk, energy researcher Rose M. Mutiso makes the case for prioritizing Africa’s needs with what’s left of the world’s carbon budget, to foster growth and equitably achieve a smaller global carbon footprint.
This talk was part of the Countdown Global Launch on 10.10.2020. (Watch the full event here: .) Countdown is TED’s global initiative to accelerate solutions to the climate crisis. The goal: to build a better future by cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, in the race to a zero-carbon world. Get involved at
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BruceBrewsky
November 9, 2020 at 8:22 pm
Africa doesnt need to use carbon. Solar is now the cheapest energy source on the planet. Dont make this into a “they got to do it, why cant I?” Scenario. You dont get to pull everyone else back just so you can catch up.
yogibearstie
November 9, 2020 at 8:31 pm
I know nothing about manufacturing solar panels, but I do wonder if Africa couldn’t under price China for export and for internal consumption transform the continent. Make buildings solar ready from the start.
Joe Stetz
November 9, 2020 at 8:55 pm
PS.. I’m not going to feel bad that we use more electricity playing video games. Blame your own corrupt governments.. and victim mentality. Not everything is racism. Fkn ridiculous.
𝕮𝖚𝖈𝕶 𝕮𝖗𝖚𝖘𝖍𝖊𝖗
November 9, 2020 at 9:06 pm
They sure do need a lot
Wayne
November 9, 2020 at 9:27 pm
There no funding agencies provided by wealthier countries to enable climate friendly energy projects ?
Nature Owns
November 9, 2020 at 9:35 pm
I see Michelle Obama
OneChoice Empire
November 9, 2020 at 9:37 pm
Bring that down from 7.5 years to 5 or less. Humans, still, are not smart enough to understand!
Marko Nurmi
November 9, 2020 at 9:42 pm
…we Finnish have been sending millions and millions to Afrika…we dug wells, we bring schools…for decades…
k
November 9, 2020 at 9:45 pm
How can Africa fight climate change when they can’t even feed there own people. 😂😂😂 that’s a joke
Necate .Youtube
November 9, 2020 at 9:51 pm
I’ve seen my fair share of presentations and angles towards climate change and upcoming problems/possible solutions. Everytime it was acknowledged that “developing” africa will prove a challenge, but nobody ever made the statement that “africa needs to lower it’s emissions as much as other developed continents do”.
I don’t want to discredit the talk, but where does this statement come from?
Have I missed something o.0 ?
Ruth Oke
November 9, 2020 at 10:15 pm
Omg, I’ve always had this in mind. Before any country in Africa can succeed, ELECTRICITY AND INTERNET are main priorities
Digital Wraith
November 9, 2020 at 10:21 pm
Sorry but I disagree with her carbon standpoint. All nations need to get off of none renuable fuel/energy. You see how impossibly difficult to get people who are on it to move over to clean, renuable energy? Why can’t richer nations simply work together with Africa to skip the pollution and get to green energy? Africa went from the stone age straight to the iron age. They skipped the bronze age, and this was before colonialism. So no outside interference caused this innovation. Don’t underestimate human potential. It certainly can be done. You can start with kicking out the racist Chinese who refuse to employ or work with Africans but insists on profiting on the resources in Africa.
Trish Hart
November 9, 2020 at 10:27 pm
Help us to help them, Lord. Amen.
Béatrice ROLAND
November 9, 2020 at 10:46 pm
Africa peuple have to change the mind. be in control of themselves instead of being an applicant
Solitary Reaper
November 9, 2020 at 10:58 pm
how about stop the rapid uncontrolled population growth to fight climate change (and reduce poverty)?
Mutant Buzzard
November 9, 2020 at 11:01 pm
Under liberal “leadership” California DOES have daily blackouts.
Mutant Buzzard
November 9, 2020 at 11:05 pm
The climate will change regardless of emissions, cause co2 don’t cause climate change
James Kulevich
November 9, 2020 at 11:07 pm
What?! Hahahaha!
bravojr
November 9, 2020 at 11:10 pm
Comparing anything to californium at this point is like Comparing compost to a Diamond.
It sucks, we know!
Homunkulus
November 9, 2020 at 11:11 pm
Get it yourself. Stand on your own two legs for once and stop begging for charity constantly.
R N
November 9, 2020 at 11:44 pm
We’ve got all it takes. We just have to want more so much so the storm moves leadership whether or not they’re willing.
Agent76
November 10, 2020 at 12:09 am
Weather is not climate. Scientific fact!
Benjamin Obeng
November 10, 2020 at 12:51 am
This is perfect. You said it all.
059 สุดารัตน์ ผลเจริญ
November 10, 2020 at 1:11 am
สวัสดีค่ะ
อยากใหมีคำเเปล เป็นภาษาไทย ด้วยจังเลยค่ะ
James Aseltine
November 10, 2020 at 1:12 am
Make it a drone/ car manufacturing site and take it from there with a solar system to power the plant and ejacent neborhoods
osmmanipadmehum
November 10, 2020 at 4:13 am
There are intrigues behind intrigues in this matter. I think it is not about Africa not getting fossil fuel plants, I think it is about trying to ensure it doesn’t develop at all. Doing so means more informed population and stronger control of resources. All that is needed to prove the opposite is for some western companies to go to Africa and agree with some countries to build and keep control of nuclear power plants there. Cheap and clean energy for the local populations would be best for all if people are so concerned with emissions. If not then know there are other issues at play.
TheaDragonSpirit
November 10, 2020 at 4:29 am
5:59 – We already have all this renewable technology, but it’s too advance for us to do? What kind of logic is that. If you already know how to do renewable, why the heck do you need to start doing coal? Seems to me like some prat that can’t do coal mining in another country wants to make another country feel like they need them to do coal. I really don’t understand how you can say we know how to do renewable then claim it’s too advance. It makes no sense.
TheaDragonSpirit
November 10, 2020 at 4:32 am
6:16 – There isn’t an additional pot, we need everyone to stop putting emissions in to the atmosphere. We need less emissions. We need technology to remove emissions, not excuses to put more emissions out. You already said you know how to do renewable technology. So I just don’t understand the logic at all.
TheaDragonSpirit
November 10, 2020 at 4:34 am
Everyone should say that, it wont be because we added emissions, it will be because someone else did. So it’s not our responsibility it’s someone else is. If everyone thinks like this we will be worse off.
Monica Cespedes
November 10, 2020 at 5:42 am
What can I do to help?????????????????????
Relectrod
November 10, 2020 at 6:04 am
#1 contributor to climate change and carbon footprint is animal agriculture and meat consumption.
Rémi _
November 10, 2020 at 6:06 am
Hey ted talk, why did you CENSOR geek and gamer podcast. Why false flags ?
Rémi _
November 10, 2020 at 6:07 am
This is propaganda. Ted talk Censor ant dissent speech and provide the good talk.
Jacy Steven
November 10, 2020 at 7:45 am
Nice man
Maek Marty
November 10, 2020 at 8:03 am
I can’t be the first one who thought seeing the thumbnail: Oh cool, Michelle Obama is doing a TED-talk.
Onioncore
November 10, 2020 at 8:19 am
WOW
Took you a FULL 5 min to get to racism.
STOP/RESET
November 10, 2020 at 8:48 am
I love how she literally STARTS with whining about white people. SORRY that we manage our country and economy well enough to afford luxuries. What, Africa needs MORE help to finally “grow”?
Tuxu HDS
November 10, 2020 at 9:04 am
Thorium is a cheaper sort of fuel that’s actually considered as garbage in mining operations.
It’s abundant and it’s safer than coal or gas.
Build thorium lifters.
Minimum pollution, minimum fuel cost, maximum safety, maximum yield.
Stig Helmer
November 10, 2020 at 9:56 am
Africa is poor because they don’t work hard to change. Many countries adopted communism during the cold war and rejected healthy competition that brings wealth to the people. China and India is increasing carbon emissions while the US and EU lower theirs.
anonymous anonymous
November 10, 2020 at 10:30 am
Except for comment, my mouth is shut- more energy on video games, ga ga ga games, than Senegal, than, than, than it echoes, sickening, I listen to Senegalese music yes I am white, BUT I LOVE THE ETHNIC MUSIC OF SENEGAL, next time I listen I will bear this in mind, at least Trump is gone, as a Canadian I am counting on Bidden to work with Trudeau to DO SOMETHING, NOT WHAT THE SPEAKER DESCRIBES, NOR WHAT CHINA HAS DONE, A VIABLE, A FAIR, NEW LEVEL OF LIVING…Namaste, Z ( I am saving this to listen to daily, when I waste water, or during hot weather, in November it should be snowing here but it has been bizarro 21C that proves climate change for this Canadian, southern Ontario- BUT DURING OUR SUMMER WE WASTE PRECIOUS WORLD RESOURCES BY KEEPING OUR STORES SO COLD THE STAFF NEED SWEATERS, WHOOPS I KEPT TALKING. All of what the speaker said should matter wherever you are, stupid me, as I run water, waiting for it to get HOT or COLD enough, I muse about Africa, kids who have to walk for miles for water, brainwashing- you tell me, The Iconic Fashion High Priestess Vivienne Westwood years ago made me aware, I cant afford ludicrously overpriced Moen temperature set taps – we all know technology is there and affordable, such taps should be standard!!!! Our hydro bills are among the most expensive on the planet ((I keep visualizing Niagara Falls, thinking what a friggin rip off)) Namaste world, pay attention to what she stressed, do they make school kids aware of talks like this? All these gadgets- and yet I feel overall we are DUMBER, maybe I’ll go back to bed with Ali Farke Toure…Z
Big Dee
November 10, 2020 at 11:18 am
Africans did not have the WHEEL ,, when the Dutch landed … these r stone aged people … do something for yourselves,, if u can … good luck
Talkedkestrel
November 11, 2020 at 7:41 pm
king mansa munsa, ghana empire, kush kingdom … don’t be stupid, learn before you talk 😉
Big Dee
November 12, 2020 at 3:14 am
@Talkedkestrel evolution took place for those who walked out …
Skulduggery Pleasant
November 10, 2020 at 11:59 am
I do not think that Africa should get the remainder of the carbon budget. In fact, I don’t think any country should get any more carbon allowance. we have the technology to convert entirely to renewable energy, and we should do that. developed nations have the capital to give completely sustainable energy to Africa. African nations need to have renewable energy developed, not coal. if they do not have the resources to do this then rich countries should do this for them. inequality is a serious issue, but that is not a reason to develop in non-renewable fields for energy. just because someone else committed a crime to get to a position of prosperity doesn’t mean that everyone should. I do condemn nations that still use energy from fossil fuels, but development is no excuse to follow in their footsteps. Africa has the chance to develop without fossil fuels, and they should continue to develop this way, and other countries should support them.
pimpciak
November 10, 2020 at 12:24 pm
Question for you (University of Pennsylvania educated yet somehow African) lady… Why are you allowing all those companies extract all that gas and other minerals from Africa? just use it yourself…
Lord Butterscotch
November 10, 2020 at 1:08 pm
I see what you’re saying but maybe Africa could be the exception instead, and do clean energy right. I’m Kenyan and believe if we continue to seriously invest in geothermal and wind and solar we could have more energy than we need.
Lost in the Stars
November 10, 2020 at 1:08 pm
I see what you’re saying but maybe Africa could be the exception instead, and do clean energy right. I’m Kenyan and believe if we continue to seriously invest in geothermal and wind and solar we could have more energy than we need.
Karen Louden
November 16, 2020 at 6:10 pm
I definitely agree with this. The real transformers of their world have always been those not who fight to adapt the current model but who break that mold and create their own.
Gathoni kuria
November 10, 2020 at 1:30 pm
Facts, Facts, Well said!!!! Africa need more energy to develop and industrialize . we need to renegotiate a better and fair deal in tackling Climate change.
YG
November 10, 2020 at 3:31 pm
I support this cause
Bridger O'Neill
November 10, 2020 at 4:10 pm
There’s a common misconception that nuclear energy is “unsafe”, “environmentally unfriendly”, “expensive”. It’s actually better than coal in all those categories. Maybe it should power Africa.
Marka Ragnos
November 11, 2020 at 4:32 pm
It’s kind of sad how few people recognize this fact.
Steve
November 11, 2020 at 11:29 pm
You know what happens to spent uranium rods?
Bridger O'Neill
November 11, 2020 at 11:46 pm
@Steve they get put in barrels surrounded by concrete in a cave in a mountain
Steve
November 12, 2020 at 2:56 am
@Bridger O’Neill that’s what they tell the masses. Look up San Onofre and many nuclear plants. For the past 50 years, we’ve been stockpiling radioactive rods onsite. We don’t know what to do with them because nobody wants the rods in their mountains…or back yard.
Bridger O'Neill
November 12, 2020 at 3:19 am
@Steve just read an article about it in Forbes. It’s interesting but it just kinda proved my point. People in SoCal getting scared for no reason. There’s a chart that shows that the radiation from it is significantly less than people get everyday
Faizan Mirza
November 10, 2020 at 5:45 pm
1:37 I stopped my job because of, *p a i d t o b e h o m e .c o m*
Umbra Noctis
November 10, 2020 at 8:35 pm
While I agree with Rose M. Mutiso in her general statement, I see a lot of problems in her speech. She is inconsistent, rather finger-pointing instead of focusing on solutions, and some of her arguments are based on a questionable premise.
On the one hand she points out that Africa is the biggest victim of climate change, on the other hand she demands a bigger share of emissions for Africa. If you will suffer the most, shouldn’t you endorse GHG emission reductions on other continents as well as your own? It is correct that developed countries need to drastically reduce their emissions, much more than developing countries. But fighting climate change is a global task and must be pursued by everyone and every nation. There is no sense in building fossil fuel based power plants arguing that western society needs to transform its energy generation first. Last but not least, no one denies Africa its fair share of emissions and no one doubts that there will be an increased energy demand in the future. But she uses this claim for some of her arguments. Also, I’m tired of the racism argument whenever it seems to support the own narrative, since it’s a knockout argument. The phrased opinion that “not everyone can or should achieve western standards” is not racist motivated and could affect nations of any “race”. Also, it does not exclude that western societies also have to reduce their standards.
GHG emissions and economic growth correlated in the past. But there is no necessary correlation in reality. Therefore, I don’t see a problem in funding only renewable energy even if that was true. By establishing sustainable electricity generation in the first place African nations solve both, the energy demand and climate change problem. There is no need to make the same mistakes as western societies. On the contrary, they avoid a cost intensive transition period.
Macster698
November 11, 2020 at 12:13 am
This video seems to ignore that solar is the cheapest energy source available. It can also be supplemented with more consistent clean energy methods for any downtime if you’re not a believer in battery banks. If you build a carbon rich energy generation system, it won’t change. The industry will do what it does in the west and lobby the people who matter to let them keep doing business. It takes decades to get rid of that sort of thing and we don’t have enough of those left. If you really hate sun and wind, you could always build nuclear, it’s cleaner and safer than fossil fuels. If a region like Africa wants to become economically competitive, form an economic union like europe. It kinda sucks that it shifted to politics in europe but unity is what africa needs. fix your political system, get rid of all the division and corruption and stop the big players like america china and the EU from pillaging your rare earth minerals and bribing the important guys rather than shaking your fist at the “racist” rich because they won’t help you grow the way you want.
Gianni Marco
November 11, 2020 at 3:27 am
Nuclear energy has no carbon emissions with waste that is easily handled with today’s tech, and in the future should be even easier to dispose of. Unless there are earthquakes or similar natural disasters, building nuclear power plants would solve all of Africa’s energy needs!
ORYX Photo Tours
November 11, 2020 at 4:06 am
Wow, Thanks for this. So interesting… Africa, we need to harness our natural energy whilst fighting climate change.
matt copley
November 11, 2020 at 4:12 am
this video only gives the same old excuses how it’s not their fault and they don’t need to change anything but we need to change everything. Same tired song
Savickas
November 11, 2020 at 9:27 am
We just need sea walls, highways, safe buildings, pumped irrigation, desalination for freshwater, cold storage, ac, hundred of millions of homes, offices, data centers, warehouses, factories.
Is necklacing eco friendly?
Antonio Usai
November 11, 2020 at 11:35 am
This TED is stupid on so many levels. All countries should face the climate change with the same effort. India and China are planning to develop themselves into carbon free economies in the 2050-60, African countries can do the same.
Especially because they don’t have to build anew a set of infrastructures like other countries must do.
And yes, climate change isn’t a problem created by African people but for sure it isn’t a problem that I, young person in Europe, had any control of.
Our generation of people born in Europe and other Western developed countries in the last 30 years, can’t be charged for the crimes of our fathers. Same way African countries should stop accusing others of their internal corruption and incapacity of organizing societies and not tribes.
Mohamed Kasim
November 11, 2020 at 11:47 am
Powerful speech.. 👏Respect that!!
JanoschNr1
November 11, 2020 at 12:33 pm
You mean the Africa that is now getting rid of all the whites? Yeah no.
David Sarkar
November 12, 2020 at 7:15 pm
Tie up with India’s ambitious plan of One Sun One World Plan👍
Андрей Юрьевич Болдин 1965
November 12, 2020 at 9:00 pm
Green energy and Perpetum mobile. Интеллектуально-юмористическое противостояние, где комики и фокусники от Физики простыми словами пытаются ответить на сложный вопрос о Вечном двигателе, чтобы все на Земле поняли, кто из спорящих самый умный, самый аргументированный и самый достойный претендовать на Истину – смотрите и делайте свой выбор на данном персональном Канале.
Alan
November 13, 2020 at 5:56 am
I thought China with its Road and Belt programs had solved Africa’s problems. /sarc
Theo B
November 14, 2020 at 5:57 pm
Great video!!
Trish Tyne Works
November 15, 2020 at 1:48 pm
Thank You, Rose 🌹. Our Carbon Budget must be fought on an equitable playing field and not equally, since the disparity is different around the globe. Much love and respect to Africa, who only uses ~1% of carbon use today.
Albert Pulfer
November 17, 2020 at 2:25 am
The sad part about this is country’s like india, China and the continent of Africa are the biggest polluters in the world. America may be energy wealthy but we are the 10th cleanest country in the world. Out of those country’s we are also the most populated and wealthiest. Africa has much bigger problems then carbon tax. Like I dont know…. SLAVERY. STARVATION. EXTREME PREJUDICE against there own people. Maybe work on Ebola before you claim you don’t understand renwable energy. Also wind farms are more destructive and loss more energy than any clean resource. Solor would be okay but you don’t have the money for it because your killing each other all the time. Just a thought.
V G
November 17, 2020 at 7:16 pm
so you mean white nations created tonnes of carbon to achieve their wealth (and still do) but now want African nations to do the opposite of this? as in “do as I say and not as i do”. am I supposed to be shocked?