France is set to donate two billion euros ($2.1 billion) to African countries over the next four years to develop renewable energy and replace the fossil fuels that drive global warming, President Francois Hollande said Tuesday.
"France will devote six billion euros between 2016 and 2020 for electricity provision on the continent," he said at a meeting of African leaders on the sidelines of a UN climate conference held in Paris.
"Two billion euros will be spent on renewable energy" double the amount France provided in the preceding five years, he added.
The French president spoke a day after more than 150 world leaders gathered for the start of the 12-day
meeting aimed at reducing the threat of global warming and helping poor countries cope with its damages.
"France wants to lead by example," the French president said of his country's commitment to boosting Africa's green energy transition.
"Though Africa is not responsible for emitting greenhouse gases, it is suffering the consequences of climate change," Holland said.
"The world owes an ecological debt to the African continent."
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