Political Economy and Geopolitical Dynamics of the Energy Transition: The Case of Africa
16 June 2022 • 4:00AM EAT
This event was organized in partnership with Econews Africa, Oxfam, Publish What You Pay (PWYP) and Tax Justice Network Africa.
Featuring:
Africa is at a crossroads. It faces the vagaries of climate change, looming commitments around energy transition and a planned development path dependent on extractive resources to reduce poverty and inequality. Although Africa has the lowest carbon emissions footprint, it is among the continents most impacted by global warming. Meeting the Paris Agreement commitments to limit global warming to 1.5°C and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 requires a large-scale mobilization of political and economic capital to accelerate the process of replacing carbon-intensive energy infrastructure with low-carbon energy sources.
Political economy considerations and geopolitics have always been at the heart of the extractive sector, as different political and economic competitors vie for access to and control of vital extractive resources. Climate change and the looming energy transition will redefine these geopolitics in the future. Geopolitical positioning related to access to and control of oil reserves could be significantly reduced. However, access to vital reserves of critical minerals is and will be important in the context of the energy transition. Limited supply and the race to control supply chains for critical minerals could also fuel corruption and a race to the bottom, rather than advancing development in producing countries, as companies compete to edge out potential rivals.
African civil society actors and policymakers have expressed concerns about inequality in global climate and energy transition commitments. They argue that current global efforts to achieve a low-carbon economy may not be fully aligned with reality in African countries. Therefore, a holistic and balanced approach based on the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” is needed, particularly with regard to the phase-out of fossil fuel projects by developing countries in Africa. Citizens, NGOs and officials must therefore understand the key players, their interests and a relative consensus on how the energy transition in Africa should be approached. African civil society organizations (CSOs) and policymakers have already named energy access and development for millions of Africans in the context of the energy transition as a pillar that should be at the center of the energy transition discourse, although some dissenting views may still exist.
Speakers at this session, part of the ongoing joint webinar series, “East And Southern Africa CSO Energy Transition Joint Capacity-Building and Road To COP27” (organized by NRGI, Oxfam, PWYP, TJNA, Econews and Power Shift Africa), discussed existing views on the energy transition, highlighting viewpoints in the Global North (developed countries), the Global South (less developed countries, particularly in Africa), and the contrasts between them. The goal was to discuss the implications of these perceived conflicting narratives and to address existing myths that may prevent African CSOs, governments and developed nations from developing a coherent agenda for Africa. Participants explored alternative pathways to achieve net-zero and sustainable development without compromising or limiting Africa’s development vision and aspirations and ensuring a just transition for Africa.
Featuring:
- Amos Wemanya, Power Shift Africa (moderator)
- Peter Kamalingin, pan-Africa program director, Oxfam International
- Titus Gwemende, senior advisor at Africa Regional Office (AFRO), Open Society Foundations
- Victoria Nalule, energy and natural resources law lecturer, University of Bradford
- Moses Kulaba, East Africa regional manager, NRGI.
Africa is at a crossroads. It faces the vagaries of climate change, looming commitments around energy transition and a planned development path dependent on extractive resources to reduce poverty and inequality. Although Africa has the lowest carbon emissions footprint, it is among the continents most impacted by global warming. Meeting the Paris Agreement commitments to limit global warming to 1.5°C and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 requires a large-scale mobilization of political and economic capital to accelerate the process of replacing carbon-intensive energy infrastructure with low-carbon energy sources.
Political economy considerations and geopolitics have always been at the heart of the extractive sector, as different political and economic competitors vie for access to and control of vital extractive resources. Climate change and the looming energy transition will redefine these geopolitics in the future. Geopolitical positioning related to access to and control of oil reserves could be significantly reduced. However, access to vital reserves of critical minerals is and will be important in the context of the energy transition. Limited supply and the race to control supply chains for critical minerals could also fuel corruption and a race to the bottom, rather than advancing development in producing countries, as companies compete to edge out potential rivals.
African civil society actors and policymakers have expressed concerns about inequality in global climate and energy transition commitments. They argue that current global efforts to achieve a low-carbon economy may not be fully aligned with reality in African countries. Therefore, a holistic and balanced approach based on the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” is needed, particularly with regard to the phase-out of fossil fuel projects by developing countries in Africa. Citizens, NGOs and officials must therefore understand the key players, their interests and a relative consensus on how the energy transition in Africa should be approached. African civil society organizations (CSOs) and policymakers have already named energy access and development for millions of Africans in the context of the energy transition as a pillar that should be at the center of the energy transition discourse, although some dissenting views may still exist.
Speakers at this session, part of the ongoing joint webinar series, “East And Southern Africa CSO Energy Transition Joint Capacity-Building and Road To COP27” (organized by NRGI, Oxfam, PWYP, TJNA, Econews and Power Shift Africa), discussed existing views on the energy transition, highlighting viewpoints in the Global North (developed countries), the Global South (less developed countries, particularly in Africa), and the contrasts between them. The goal was to discuss the implications of these perceived conflicting narratives and to address existing myths that may prevent African CSOs, governments and developed nations from developing a coherent agenda for Africa. Participants explored alternative pathways to achieve net-zero and sustainable development without compromising or limiting Africa’s development vision and aspirations and ensuring a just transition for Africa.