Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Gerd Mueller said the country will unveil talks on climate change at the United Nations, to attract more private investment in projects in Africa and elsewhere.

The minister told RND Newspaper that Germany will highlight its determination at the U.N. climate conference in Katowice, Poland with its Alliance for Development and Climate initiative and a pledge to spend an additional 1.5 billion euros ($1.7 billion) on climate protection.

According to Mueller, it is important to develop the ability of African nations and also countries such as Brazil, India, and China to provide electricity for their growing populations without relying on coal production. He said “we can help spark leaps in development. We have the technology and knowledge”.

The German minister said unless countries like Germany step in to bolster investment in alternative energy sources, the African population which is expected to double to 2.5 billion people by 2050 will trigger construction of 1,000 more coal-burning power plants.

Read more at:  Reuters