Africa is increasingly vulnerable to climate change, making the urgent adoption of sustainable energy solutions crucial for achieving its sustainable development goals. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), under the Paris Agreement, are vital climate commitments made by countries, including those in Africa, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen their climate resilience, in line with their national capacities and priorities. A central focus of these commitments is the expansion of access to renewable energy, a necessity in a region where energy poverty remains a significant challenge. African countries cannot only mitigate the effects of climate change by integrating clean energy sources but also improve the quality of life for their populations and stimulate economic growth.
However, the shift to renewable energy in Africa is not just a technical or environmental challenge, it is a social and economic challenge that must be navigated with a focus on justice. This is where the concept of a just transition becomes critical. A just transition ensures that the move towards a low-carbon economy is fair and inclusive, addressing the needs of workers, communities, and vulnerable populations who may be disproportionately affected by the transition. It emphasises the creation of decent jobs, social protection, and equitable access to clean energy while leaving no one behind.
The NDCs provide a strategic framework for operationalising a just transition in Africa by aligning renewable energy targets with social and economic development goals. For example, Kenya’s NDC includes commitments to improve energy access in rural areas and promote clean cooking solutions, which directly address the needs of vulnerable populations. Similarly, South Africa’s NDC emphasises the importance of creating jobs in the renewable energy sector and supporting communities affected by the transition away from coal. NDCs can serve as a roadmap for ensuring that the energy transition is both environmentally sustainable and socially equitable. Despite the progress made in achieving NDC targets related to renewable energy in Africa, the implementation of these commitments faces several challenges that can hinder the realisation of a just transition.
The upcoming deadline for submitting updated NDCs in September 2025 presents a critical opportunity for African countries to embed just transition principles into their climate strategies. As nations revise their climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, they can use this moment to align renewable energy goals with broader socio-economic development priorities. This policy brief analyses how renewable energy priorities are currently reflected in African countries’ NDCs and explores how just transition principles can be more effectively integrated. It identifies key barriers, financial, technical, regulatory, and socio-economic, that hinder renewable energy implementation and demonstrates how embedding just transition frameworks in updated NDCs can help address these challenges while promoting equitable, inclusive climate action.