BONN, Germany – Moving away from fossil fuels while making sure the process is fair and tackles societal injustices is known as a “just energy transition.”
Y News understands that it seeks to lessen the effects of climate change while taking accessibility, affordability, and cost redistribution into account, with a special emphasis on making powerful polluters responsible.
This strategy places a strong emphasis on well-run operations that give social justice and poverty alleviation first priority during the transition.
Against this background, Y News sought to understand from experts what exactly does the Just Energy Transition mean for the Global South.
In a timely press conference moderated by Dr. Wafa Misrar of Climate Action Network (CAN) Africa, voices from the Global South shared their insights.
What is the main challenge currently facing Brazil
According to Mario G., the Caribbean Regional Youth Council in Jamaica, they are working to expand access to renewables.
“However, it’s crucial to remember that people must be at the heart of the energy transition. A just transition must meaningfully involve communities at all levels and ensure the protection of the environment,” said Mario.
Claudio Angelo, from the Observatório do Clima (Brazil), said that Brazil has a high share of renewables in its energy mix, with about 50%, well above the global average.
As a result, Angelo disclosed that their emissions are significantly lower than those of many other countries.
“However, our challenge lies in the transport sector, which remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels… While the region is rich in renewables, companies are repeating the same old patterns: land grabbing, forced evictions, and human rights violations,” explained Angelo.
Why Brazilian communities have taken a firm stand
The good news, Angelo observed, is that Brazilian communities are beginning to push back, organise, and demand fair benefits from renewable energy investments.”
On his part, Fred Njehu, from Greenpeace Africa, said that Just Transition is an environmental issue and transcends development matters.
“It means correcting structural imbalances. Finance in this transition is a game changer for us to meet the goals of the JTWP. Therefore, parties must strive to address the issue of new, adequate and predictable financing and climate flows, otherwise we’ll see Just Transition becoming another fancy slogan,” he explained.
In Bonn, Njehu reiterated that there was a dire need to recognise that the JTWP has its work cut out
“From the current state of play, we must recognise there are key issues that need to be addressed before we go to Belem,” Njehu said.
How A Just Transition protects local communities
According to Beyrra Triasdian, from Trend Asia, A just energy transition is not simply about changing our source of energy; it also means how our energy is produced, distributed, and governed.
“It also means replacing fossil fuels. It means a process that puts people and the planet first. More than that, it means answering in a way that is fair, inclusive and strengthens the rights of communities,” explained Beyrra.
From where Beyrra sits, A Just Transition means protecting communities from land grabs, displacement and environmental harm.
Y News has established that at the ongoing Bonn Climate Talks, experts continue to accuse fossil fuel giants, complicit governments, paid scientists, and media platforms of waging a misinformation war that threatens global climate action.
“Misinformation fuels climate denialism, delays policy and deepens inequality,” says Mohamed Adow, the founder and director of Power Shift Africa, a Nairobi-based non-governmental organisation and think tank.
Why Mohamed Adow established Power Shift Africa
Adow established the organisation in 2018 to promote climate action in Africa, focusing on climate and energy issues.
He is described as a climate justice advocate. Power Shift Africa aims to mobilise and shift climate and energy policies within the African continent.
As the global climate negotiations continue in Bonn, Y News also sought to understand what caused the delay.
The fight over the agenda wasn’t just procedural. Bolivia introduced two “contentious items” that wealthy nations tried to block, most notably, a proposal to include binding financial commitments under Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement.
What are the three urgent fronts at the Bonn talks
Now that the agenda has been adopted, attention turns to whether these talks can unlock progress on three urgent fronts:
- Supporting vulnerable countries to adapt to climate impacts
- Advancing a just transition away from fossil fuels
- Mobilising the $300 billion (Sh39 trillion) in climate finance promised at COP29
Against this background, this week will be a test of political will. For climate-vulnerable countries, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
