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The Green Energy Transition Is Not Necessarily Just

Summary

Bryan Galligan, a research and policy analyst at the Jesuit Justice and Ecology Network Africa, discusses the concept of a "just transition" in the context of the green energy transition. While the transition away from fossil fuels is crucial for mitigating climate change, Galligan argues that it should not overlook the potential social and environmental impacts of mining the vast mineral resources needed for renewable energy technologies. African countries, which have contributed minimally to historical CO2 emissions, hold large deposits of minerals necessary for the global energy transition. However, prevailing models of colonial resource extraction in these countries often lack justice, resulting in human rights abuses, ecological degradation, and poor governance. Galligan emphasizes the importance of uprooting these models and replacing them with inclusive and sustainable alternatives to ensure a truly just transition to a green energy future.

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