In recent years, the world has witnessed a significant increase in global attention to climate justice, with many nations and organizations working tirelessly to address the issue. The 2023 International Network on African Energy Transition (INAET) conference in Nairobi brought together experts from around the world to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Africa in the transition to a low-carbon economy.
The conference marked a significant moment for the CGIAR Climate Security team of the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT, who officially launched their Climate Justice Research Strategy.
A New Approach to Climate Justice
The Climate Justice Research Strategy is a bold initiative that aims to reposition justice as a central strategy for advancing climate action that is equitable, effective, and peace-positive.
For the CGIAR Climate Security team, justice is not just a normative principle, but a tangible, research-based framework for integrating justice across climate policy and programming.
Three Cross-Cutting Themes
- Justice in policy and legal frameworks
- Justice in resource allocation and financial mechanisms
- Justice in fragile and conflict-affected settings
The team’s research focuses on the following three cross-cutting themes:
The first theme explores how justice can be embedded in policy and legal frameworks. This involves analyzing the existing frameworks and identifying areas where justice can be strengthened or improved.
The second theme examines the allocation of resources and financial mechanisms. This includes investigating how resources are distributed and how financial mechanisms can be used to promote justice.
The third theme investigates justice in fragile and conflict-affected settings. This involves exploring how justice can be promoted in areas where conflict and instability are present.
Climate Finance Justice
One of the flagship studies presented by the CGIAR Climate Security team was on climate finance justice.
The study found that multilateral climate funds are often allocated based on historical emissions, rather than the current vulnerability levels of the countries they are targeting.
This has led to inconsistencies in the distribution of funds, with some countries receiving more than they should and others receiving less.
The study highlights the need to realign finance with justice, rather than just efficiency. This means promoting climate investments in countries that are least responsible for emissions but most exposed to climate impacts.
Energy Transition Minerals
Another flagship study presented by the CGIAR Climate Security team was on energy transition minerals (ETMs).
ETMs are critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which are essential for the production of renewable energy technologies.
The study found that the global rush for ETMs is reshaping resource dynamics and having significant consequences for peace and stability.
Risks to Peace and Security
| Risks to Peace and Security | Consequences of ETM extraction |
| Resource competition | Intensifying resource competition, exacerbating inequalities, and triggering social unrest. |
| Water scarcity | Water-intensive ETM mining operations. |
| Governance challenges | Governance-challenged ETM mining operations. |
The study explores whether there is a nexus between ETM extraction and conflict, and aims to identify strategies to mitigate risks while protecting livelihoods and ecosystems.
Development and the Just Transition
The CGIAR Climate Security team also presented a study on development and the just transition.
The study questions the assumption that a just transition must follow a uniform path and instead explores how it can be anchored in Africa’s own development agenda.
The study found that Africa should prioritize minerals such as iron, copper, and gold, which can directly support industrialization, manufacturing, and long-term sovereignty over its economic future.
Conditions for Sustainable Development
- Inclusive transition models
- Job-rich transition models
- Peace-oriented transition models
The study identifies the following conditions for sustainable development and the just transition:
1. Inclusive transition models: transition models that are inclusive of local communities and prioritize their needs.
2. Job-rich transition models: transition models that create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
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