Harare: Africa stands at the center of the world's energy transition, with its rich reserves of critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, essential for powering the global shift to electric vehicles and renewable energy. However, this green transition is raising concerns across the continent as communities face significant challenges amidst the promise of sustainability and climate action.
According to Ghana Web, the Regional Ecofeminist Convening held in Harare, Zimbabwe, exposed the harsh realities faced by African communities due to "energy transition extractivism." The transition away from fossil fuels is becoming another chapter in Africa's history of resource extraction, where communities in regions like Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Hanyanya in Bikita, Zimbabwe, suffer from displacement, environmental destruction, labor exploitation, and violence as demand for minerals accelerates. Similar issues are reported in Mozambique, Uganda, and Madagascar.
The narrative of clean energy is contradicted by the dirty extraction processes experienced by communities. In Kenya, a country often highlighted for its renewable energy achievements, indigenous communities like the Masai and Turkana have lost grazing lands and cultural heritage due to large renewable projects, while still struggling with high electricity costs and limited access to energy.
The transition is also marked by unmet promises, as seen in South Africa's Just Energy Transition Partnership (JET-P), which despite an $8.5 billion financing package, has left communities with expectations but few tangible benefits. This situation underscores the need for enforceable agreements, transparent governance, and meaningful participation from affected communities across Africa.
The Harare convening highlighted the power imbalances in decision-making processes. Communities often find themselves excluded from critical decisions affecting their lands, with Environmental Impact Assessments conducted without genuine consultation and contracts negotiated behind closed doors. This exclusion extends into the legal system, where litigation is costly and slow, leaving communities at a disadvantage.
Participants called for "movement lawyering," where lawyers work alongside communities, recognizing that land rights and environmental justice are intertwined with social and cultural issues. Investment in community paralegals and recognition of indigenous knowledge systems were also emphasized as essential steps toward a just energy transition.
The discussions emphasized the vital role of women, who are often the first to experience the impacts of environmental degradation yet remain underrepresented in decision-making processes. An ecofeminist approach highlights that environmental justice cannot be achieved without gender justice.
Africa's rejection is not of the energy transition itself but of a transition that repeats historical injustices. The continent seeks an energy future that is democratic, community-led, and grounded in human rights, ensuring that the green economy does not become a pretext for continued exploitation. Africa deserves an energy transition that is not only renewable but also equitable and fair.