Conceptualizing Third World Approaches to Climate Change and Sustainability: Part Two

This article was co-authored with Izabelle Kansiime Lwamafa.

Part One of this series, laid down the foundation for what the concept of Third World Approaches to Climate Change and Sustainability (TWACCS) entails. Modelled on the concept of Third-world Approaches to International Law, TWACCS posits that the Eurocentric nature of the international world order found its way into the climate change and sustainability discourse. In so doing, the international frameworks on climate change and sustainability ignore the foundations of the climate crisis and fail to appropriately apportion accountability.

With this background, the TWACCS concept set out to examine various concepts with a view of promoting meaningful engagement regarding the global South in the climate change discourse, in light of the critical historical context and the South’s present and future development needs. 

The Just Energy Transition Concept

The concept of a “Just Transition” has its origins in the work of labour unions and environmental justice initiatives that sought alternatives for workers seeking a transition towards jobs outside of industries polluting the air and the environment. According to Anthony Stark et.al, the concept of a just transition has since expanded from merely labour markets to include indigenous people, self-determination, food security as well as energy sovereignty. Accordingly, Stark defines it simply, as a fair and equitable process of moving toward a post-carbon society.

Oxfam specifically defines the “Just Energy Transition” as the defunding of fossil fuels in a way that reduces inequality, shifting costs to wealthy polluters while prioritizing socio-economic justice, and part of this process includes holding the wealthy nations accountable for their commitments under the Paris Agreement.

It may be argued therefore that the crux of the concept of a just energy transition recognizes the following:

1. Poor and vulnerable communities, especially in the global South, are impacted the most by the effects of the climate crisis;
2. The push for a transition to a low-carbon future poses further threats and risks to these poor and vulnerable communities; and
3. The just transition is necessary to ensure that the poor and vulnerable communities are not neglected during the transition process and that the transition process must be inclusive & consider the socio-economic impacts across all segments of the society.

Just Energy Transition and TWACCS

The key elements of the concept of a just energy transition as highlighted in the foregoing paragraph are not in doubt. These have indeed been well enumerated in some domestic legislations across Africa such as the National Climate Change Act of Uganda and the Climate Change Act of South Africa.  It is imperative to note, as Stark and Oxfam argue, that the concept of a just energy transition has extended to and includes – Energy Sovereignty and Accountability. In the lens of TWACCS, these two are critical aspects in the climate change discourse with respect to the position of the global South.

Energy Sovereignty refers to the ability of the global South to make their own decisions on how to pursue energy development – considering their unique development needs and in balance with the climate change agenda.  The push by developing countries to pursue energy sovereignty remains highly contested and evidence of this may be found in the opposition to various ongoing oil & gas projects such as the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project in Uganda.

However, the TWACCS concept argues that the global South must have the right to pursue its development agenda which includes natural resource exploitation. Global consensus on this subject will ensure that efforts to de-carbonize are more contextualized and fairer to all countries. Consensus on this matter would also avert what Micheal Jakob and Jan Christoph Steckel assert as emerging hesitance to climate change initiatives by States in order not to impede their development goals. Moreover, the UNFCCC in Article 3 and Article 4 highlights the importance of considering the special circumstances and specific needs of developing countries – which needs certainly include their development priorities. The transition to a carbon-free future will not be just if it ignores the development needs of developing countries as well as their energy sovereignty.

The aspect of accountability is two pronged. It should include a recognition of the contribution of developed countries to the climate crisis, and a fulfilment of the commitments made by these countries under the auspices of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement. Indeed, the preamble of the UNFCCC contains a recognition that the largest share of historical and current global emissions of greenhouse gases has originated in developed countries. This recognition must then be followed by concrete actions, that go beyond political rhetoric. Moreover, the Paris Agreement stresses the need for developed countries to take the lead in emission reductions. This leadership should however extend to the full breadth of honouring all the commitments made under the various climate change frameworks.

Conclusion 

The Just Energy Transition, underpinned by the TWACCS concept, offers a pathway to a fairer future, where the mitigation and adaptation initiatives are balanced with the specific context of the global South as well as accountability by all parties. A just energy transition must become an enforceable reality through trust-based international cooperation, accountability, and equity. Wealthier nations must honor commitments to financial and technological support, while developing nations must be empowered to chart their own sustainable pathways. A just energy transition has the power to deliver not only a livable planet but also a future defined by fairness and inclusivity.

Disclaimer: “The views and opinions expressed on the site are personal and do not represent the official position of Stanbic Uganda and Khulani Capital.”