Climate Change, Energy Transition, and the Global South: Learnings from the International Framework on the Ozone Layer

Azubuike, Smith I; Emeseh, Engobo; Yibakuo Amakiri, David

Abstract

The pursuit of climate action to meet net-zero targets has triggered the call for a global energy transition from fossil fuels to clean energy sources. However, this global energy transition does not entirely recognise all countries’ social, economic, and technological capacities as well as emission contributions as envisaged under the Common but Differentiated Responsibilities principle, which underlies international climate policy. It is concerned more with the outcome of transitioning to clean energy than the justice in the transition process. Recognition justice, an element of energy justice, enables us to identify the inequalities that global energy paradigms (such as the energy transition) can create and how a justice framework can help us understand the implications of energy injustice and address the inequities across energy systems. Recognition justice acknowledges the divergent perspectives rooted in social, economic, and racial differences and the varied strengths of developed and developing countries. The energy transition process ought to recognise these differences so that they are both reasonably expected to benefit everyone. Implementing the energy transition in the Global South in the same way as it is being advanced in the Global North will have security, justice, economic, resource-stranding, and sustainable development implications. This issue (of injustice in the energy transition) is aggravated by two dichotomous realities: many countries in the South will be most impacted by climatic changes, yet there remains political and social opposition to climate action through the energy transition. As a solution, this paper relies on the notion of recognition justice with support from the Rawlsian justice concept to argue that a delayed transition represents justice and recognises the peculiar nature and different circumstances of the Global South. It identifies that learnings from the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone Layer and the notion of CBDR (Common but Differentiated Responsibilities) under international climate treaties can be mainstreamed into the energy transition research and policies to achieve justice for countries of the Global South. The paper further finds that a delayed transition for the Global South will (i) enable the region to address sustainability-related issues of hunger and multidimensional poverty, essential to realising other Sustainable Development Goals, whilst gradually implementing energy transition policies. (ii) It will also present an attractive case against political and social opposition to energy transition in the Global South. (iii) It will advance the goal of CBDR already recognised under international climate treaties and the bifurcated approaches established in such treaties. (iv) Finally, it will ensure that developed countries contributing the most to GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions take the lead now and act while the Global South effectuate national contributions sustainably.

Citation

Azubuike, S. I., Emeseh, E., & Yibakuo Amakiri, D. (2024). Climate Change, Energy Transition, and the Global South: Learnings from the International Framework on the Ozone Layer. Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law, 42(3), 255-277. https://doi.org/10.1080/02646811.2024.2345012

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 16, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jul 18, 2024
• Publication Date: Jul 18, 2024
• Deposit Date: May 30, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 19, 2024
• Journal: Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law
• Print ISSN: 0264-6811
• Electronic ISSN: 2376-4538
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 42
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 255-277
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02646811.2024.2345012
• Keywords: Energy Transition, Recognition Justice, Montreal Protocol, Delayed Transition, Global South, John Rawls
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2468463
• Additional Information: Series Title: Energy Justice Framework: Perspectives, Reinterpretation and implementation in Africa and the Global South