Kerry committed to low-carbon African economy

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington planned to commit $10 million to help African economies develop sound energy and climate policies.

"The fact is that good energy solutions are climate solutions," the secretary said during a meeting with African leaders Tuesday in Washington. "The solution to climate change is energy policy [and] the choices that we make with respect to our energy polices of the future."

Kerry said the U.S. government is committed to helping African economies transition to a low-carbon model through a joint clean energy finance initiative. The U.S. government, he said, is committed to providing $10 million to support the effort.

The secretary said policy lines are blurred in the 21st century as economic and foreign policies overlap. An issue like climate change knows no border, he said.

President Barack Obama last month outlined a series of initiatives on climate issues, including a $236 million investment on rural energy infrastructure. Kerry said emerging economies in Africa could replicate that model.

"Africa can be a clean energy beacon for the world, and energy prosperity can actually replace energy poverty," he said.