Just transition offers a way for fossil fuel-dependant economies to meet climate goals, while ensuring that society as a whole – communities, workers, young people and marginalised groups – remain in the forefront of the conversation.
Just transition offers a way for fossil fuel-dependant economies to meet climate goals, while ensuring that society as a whole – communities, workers, young people and marginalised groups – remain in the forefront of the conversation.
This book explores the political economy of just transition in East, West and Southern Africa in order to shine a light on contested epistemologies, policy configurations and case studies of practice at various scales. In the African context, just transition is particularly significant due to the continent's rich natural resources, including oil, gas, and minerals, which have historically been exploited without adequate consideration for environmental sustainability and local communities' socio-economic rights. This book analyses how just transition, in practice, should aim to rectify these historical injustices by promoting inclusive decision-making processes that involve the affected groups, workers and communities. Bringing together leading scholars in the field, who apply a climate justice analytical lens and just transition concepts, the chapters question the extent to which pathways towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050 are achievable in Africa and whether this can be attained without undermining economic growth, jobs, livelihoods and lives.
Just Transition and Climate Justice in Sub-Saharan Africa will be an important read for policymakers as well as for researchers in the fields of climate justice, environmental law, African and environmental studies.
PART I
1 Climate Justice and Just Transition in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Prologue
Philani Moyo, Willice O. Abuya and Gabriel Botchwey
2 Just Transition in South Africa: Ideological Contradictions, Contested
Policy and Practice
Philani Moyo
3 Mapping Climate Finance and Governance Mechanisms for a Just Transition in
Uganda
Eric Mabonga
4 Climate Governance for Climate Justice in Ghana: Progress and Challenges
Thomas P Botchway and Emmanuel Letsyo
PART II
5 The Climate Change-Mining Nexus: Decarbonisation for a Just Transition in
Kenyas Extractive Industry
Willice O. Abuya
6 Organised Labour and Just Energy Transition in South Africa and Zimbabwe:
Is a Worker-Centred Transition Possible in the Coal Value-Chain?
Samukele Hadebe and Philani Moyo
7 Climate Action and the Just Transition in Ghana: Experiences and Evidence
in Mining, Water and Forestry Sectors
Gabriel Botchwey
8 Intersecting Climate Resilient Development and Just Energy Transition
Strategies in Zimbabwe
Cornelias Ncube and Philani Moyo
PART III
9 Adaptation in Coastal Areas of Ghana: Opportunities and Challenges for a
Just Transition
Blessing Charuka, Donatus B Angnuureng, Rael Adhiambo, Godwin Tutu,
Nanabanyin Ekumah, Emuobonuvie G Ayeta, Richmond Korang and Denis W Aheto
10 Climate and Gender Justice in Eswatini: Opportunities and Omissions
Towards a Just Transition
Sipho F Mamba, Thabo Ndlovu and Cornelias Ncube
11 Climate Change and Education System Disruptions in Sub-Saharan Africa: A
Review
John M Ongubo
12 Topical yet an Afterthought: Media Coverage of Just Transition in Malawi
and Zambia
Nhlanhla Ngwenya and Tabani Moyo
Philani Moyo is Professor of Sociology at the University of Fort Hare in South Africa. He holds a DPhil and an MA from the University of Leeds, UK. His primary research interests are in climate justice, just transition, adaptation and resilience building, climate-resilient food systems and food justice. One of his recent books is Climate Action in Southern Africa: Implications for Climate Justice and Just Transition (editor) (Routledge, 2024). Philani sits on the Board of Directors for the Association for Applied and Clinical Sociology (USA) and is a member of the Development Studies Association of the UK and of the South African Sociological Association and the co-lead of the Future Earth Africa Hub Leadership Centres Sustainability Science Cluster on Degrowth and Climate Justice in Africa.
Willice O. Abuya is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Moi University, Kenya, specialising in environmental sociology. His most recent publication is Identity and Moralities in African Values and Development: Rethinking Agenda 2063 (Routledge, 2025). His current international research partnership is with the University of Genevas Violence Against Environmental Defenders in Mining project. He is also the co-lead of the Future Earth Africa Hub Leadership Centres Sustainability Science Cluster, focusing on Degrowth and Climate Justice. Willice is also an associate editor for the journal Extractive Industry and Society.
Gabriel Botchwey is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana. He holds a PhD in politics and international studies (Leeds), an MA in development studies (the Netherlands) and a Master of Laws (Ghana). Some of his recent publications include Small-scale Mining, Environmental Destruction and Democracy Capture: The Government of Ghanas Failed War on Galamsey; Small-Scale Mining, Environment and Livelihoods: Perspectives from Mining Communities in Ghana; and Working with Legal Small-Scale Miners: Implications for Development. Gabriel is also the co-lead of the Future Earth Africa Hub Leadership Centres Sustainability Science Cluster, focusing on Degrowth and Climate Justice.
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