Lesotho’s King Letsie III Advocates for Green Energy at Davos

Lesotho’s King Letsie III has embarked on an ambitious mission [1] at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to promote his country’s green energy initiatives. Lesotho is a landlocked mountain kingdom in Southern Africa. King Letsie III urged global business and political leaders to invest in Lesotho’s renewable energy projects at Davos.

In an interview at the forum, King Letsie emphasized the transformative potential of renewable energy for Lesotho’s economy. He highlighted the country’s abundant sunlight, wind, and water resources, which could be harnessed to produce solar, wind, and hydro power.The goal is to boost private investment in these projects and eventually export renewable power to South Africa.

The initiative, known as the His Majesty King Letsie III Just Energy Transition Fund, was launched in February 2024 and aims to create a sustainable economic model for Lesotho. King Letsie has been actively seeking catalytic funding to kickstart the projects and has met with representatives from various institutions and businesses, including UK bank Standard Chartered and South Africa’s Standard Bank Group, which are providing financial advice for the fund

Lesotho, a country of just over two million people, has been severely affected by climate change, with droughts destroying crops and livestock and forcing the government to declare a state of national emergency last year. King Letsie stressed the urgent need for investment in renewable energy to mitigate these impacts and drive economic development.

During his time in Davos, King Letsie has scheduled meetings with mining group Anglo American, a Danish wind energy company, and the presidents of South Africa and Botswana. He expressed optimism about the international community’s growing interest in moving away from fossil fuels and embracing renewable energy.

King Letsie’s efforts at Davos underscore Lesotho’s commitment to sustainable development and its potential to become a regional leader in green energy. The monarch’s advocacy for renewable energy projects aims to secure a brighter, more sustainable future for his country and contribute to global climate goals.

Sources: 

[1] Lesotho’s king pitches green energy to Davos elites 

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250122-lesotho-s-king-pitches-green-energy-to-davos-elites

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