1 How to Respond to Energy Transitions in Africa …
19
implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and
policies.
39
There is a massive literature on the topic of the energy transition;
however, we must ask what the problem is with this ‘energy transition’?
The main concern with the energy transition is the streetlight effect
the concept has attracted in recent years. The streetlight effect or the
drunkard’s search connotes to a situation where people pay extra attention to a topic that is in the limelight. In energy terms, most research is
focused on energy transition, which is understandable given the need
to tackle climate change. However, this has diverted efforts to tackle
poverty on the African continent. Little care is paid to the fact that fossil
fuels still have a significant role on the continent. Instead, we are experiencing a ban on funding for fossil fuel projects. Although associated
with various advantages, including tackling climate change, the global
focus on energy transition has raised some concerns including an escalation of energy access challenges in developing countries; and disruptions
in these countries’ economic development.
Nevertheless, in recent years, several countries, including those in
Africa, have successfully utilized renewables to meet their energy
demand. In essence, the positive impact of the energy transition is the
ability to tackle climate change. However, this also has financial consequences, as most banks and international financial institutions are now
shying away from investing in fossil fuel projects. This, therefore, brings
into question the need to consider energy progression, but before that, it
is worth briefly exploring the concept of a just transition.
1.3.1.1 How Just Is a Just Transition to a Low-Carbon
Economy?
The Oxford Dictionary defines ‘just’ to mean behaving according to
what is morally right and fair.
40 How fair is it to have over 3 billion
people lacking access to modern energy? Is it morally right to introduce strategies that will have an impact on investments in fossil fuels
39 Heffron, R.J. and McCauley, D., 2018. What Is ‘Just Transition’? Geoforum 88: 74–77.
40 Oxford Dictionary. 2019. https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/transition.
19
implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and
policies.
39
There is a massive literature on the topic of the energy transition;
however, we must ask what the problem is with this ‘energy transition’?
The main concern with the energy transition is the streetlight effect
the concept has attracted in recent years. The streetlight effect or the
drunkard’s search connotes to a situation where people pay extra attention to a topic that is in the limelight. In energy terms, most research is
focused on energy transition, which is understandable given the need
to tackle climate change. However, this has diverted efforts to tackle
poverty on the African continent. Little care is paid to the fact that fossil
fuels still have a significant role on the continent. Instead, we are experiencing a ban on funding for fossil fuel projects. Although associated
with various advantages, including tackling climate change, the global
focus on energy transition has raised some concerns including an escalation of energy access challenges in developing countries; and disruptions
in these countries’ economic development.
Nevertheless, in recent years, several countries, including those in
Africa, have successfully utilized renewables to meet their energy
demand. In essence, the positive impact of the energy transition is the
ability to tackle climate change. However, this also has financial consequences, as most banks and international financial institutions are now
shying away from investing in fossil fuel projects. This, therefore, brings
into question the need to consider energy progression, but before that, it
is worth briefly exploring the concept of a just transition.
1.3.1.1 How Just Is a Just Transition to a Low-Carbon
Economy?
The Oxford Dictionary defines ‘just’ to mean behaving according to
what is morally right and fair.
40 How fair is it to have over 3 billion
people lacking access to modern energy? Is it morally right to introduce strategies that will have an impact on investments in fossil fuels
39 Heffron, R.J. and McCauley, D., 2018. What Is ‘Just Transition’? Geoforum 88: 74–77.
40 Oxford Dictionary. 2019. https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/transition.