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Assessing African Energy Transitions: Renewable Energy Policies, Energy Justice, and SDG 7
[journal article]
Abstract Renewable energy has made significant inroads in addressing growing energy demands on the African continent. However, progress towards SDG 7 is still limited and difficult to trace. Furthermore, the results-oriented rationale of the SDGs means that both policy change and the dimension of environment... view more
Renewable energy has made significant inroads in addressing growing energy demands on the African continent. However, progress towards SDG 7 is still limited and difficult to trace. Furthermore, the results-oriented rationale of the SDGs means that both policy change and the dimension of environmental justice are not covered properly. We argue that the energy justice concept may provide a powerful tool to offset looming trade-offs and enhance the co-benefits of SDG 7 within broader transition endeavours. In doing so, we assess African energy transition processes based on a comparative mapping of African renewable energy policies in 34 countries. We investigate the scope of policy frameworks in order to analyse their contribution to greater energy justice along different justice dimensions. We then identify four transition scenarios, which reflect the challenges of integrating the justice dimension into renewable energy policies. In comparing these scenarios, we argue that SDG 7 tracking needs to consider the justice dimension to arrive at a more holistic implementation that is in line with socio-ecological justice and takes account of people’s energy needs.... view less
Keywords
Africa; energy policy; renewable energy; energy industry; purpose; transition
Classification
Special areas of Departmental Policy
Free Keywords
Africa; Sustainable Development Goals; energy governance; energy justice; energy transition; policy analysis; renewable energy
Document language
English
Publication Year
2021
Page/Pages
p. 119-130
Journal
Politics and Governance, 9 (2021) 1
Issue topic
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Transformative Change through Sustainable Development Goals?
ISSN
2183-2463
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed