Just Transition and Climate Justice in Sub-Saharan Africa Epistemologies, Policy and Practice

PART I

1          Climate Justice and Just Transition in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Prologue

Philani Moyo, Willice O. Abuya and Gabriel Botchwey

2          Just Transition in South Africa: Ideological Contradictions, Contested Policy and Practice

Philani Moyo

3          Mapping Climate Finance and Governance Mechanisms for a Just Transition in Uganda

Eric Mabonga

4          Climate Governance for Climate Justice in Ghana: Progress and Challenges

Thomas P. Botchway and Emmanuel Letsyo

PART II

5          The Climate Change-Mining Nexus: Decarbonisation for a Just Transition in Kenya’s Extractive Industry

Willice O. Abuya

6          Organised Labour and Just Energy Transition in South Africa and Zimbabwe: Is a Worker-Centred Transition Possible in the Coal Value-Chain?

Samukele Hadebe and Philani Moyo

7          Climate Action and the Just Transition in Ghana: Experiences and Evidence in Mining, Water and Forestry Sectors

Gabriel Botchwey

8          Intersecting Climate-Resilient Development and Just Energy Transition Strategies in Zimbabwe

Cornelias Ncube and Philani Moyo

PART III

9          Adaptation in Coastal Areas of Ghana: Opportunities and Challenges for a Just Transition

Blessing Charuka, Donatus B. Angnureng, Rael Teresa Adhiambo, Godwin O. Tutu, Nanabanyin O. Ekumah, Ayeta E. Grace, Richmond Korang and Denis W. Aheto

10        Climate and Gender Justice in Eswatini: Opportunities and Omissions Towards a Just Transition

Sipho F. Mamba, Thabo Ndlovu and Cornelias Ncube

11        Climate Change and Education System Disruptions in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review

John M. Ongubo

12        Topical yet an Afterthought: Media Coverage of Just Transition in Malawi and Zambia

Nhlanhla Ngwenya and Tabani Moyo

Biography

Philani Moyo is Professor of Sociology at the University of Fort Hare in South Africa. He holds a DPhil and an MA from the University of Leeds, UK. His primary research interests are in climate justice, just transition, adaptation and resilience building, climate-resilient food systems and food justice. One of his recent books is Climate Action in Southern Africa: Implications for Climate Justice and Just Transition (editor) (Routledge, 2024). Philani sits on the Board of Directors for the Association for Applied and Clinical Sociology (USA) and is a member of the Development Studies Association of the UK and of the South African Sociological Association and the co-lead of the Future Earth Africa Hub Leadership Centre’s Sustainability Science Cluster on ‘Degrowth and Climate Justice in Africa’.

Willice O. Abuya is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Moi University, Kenya, specialising in environmental sociology. His most recent publication is ‘Identity and Moralities’ in African Values and Development: Rethinking Agenda 2063 (Routledge, 2025). His current international research partnership is with the University of Geneva’s ‘Violence Against Environmental Defenders in Mining’ project. He is also the co-lead of the Future Earth Africa Hub Leadership Centre’s Sustainability Science Cluster, focusing on ‘Degrowth and Climate Justice’. Willice is also an associate editor for the journal Extractive Industry and Society.

Gabriel Botchwey is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana. He holds a PhD in politics and international studies (Leeds), an MA in development studies (the Netherlands) and a Master of Laws (Ghana). Some of his recent publications include Small-scale Mining, Environmental Destruction and Democracy Capture: The Government of Ghana’s Failed War on Galamsey; Small-Scale Mining, Environment and Livelihoods: Perspectives from Mining Communities in Ghana; and Working with Legal Small-Scale Miners: Implications for Development. Gabriel is also the co-lead of the Future Earth Africa Hub Leadership Centre’s Sustainability Science Cluster, focusing on ‘Degrowth and Climate Justice’.