Assessing National Performance on Delivering a Just Energy Transition in Africa : A Deeper Analysis of the African Union Member States 2010-2020 Through Global Data

The African continent is at an energy crossroads, faced with a choice between the old fossil fuel world or a transition towards a renewable future. Reflection on the past decade gives critical signals towards how African nations may approach the next. We contribute a novel way of investigating national energy trajectories in unison with their commitment to a just transition. Building on multiple global open access data sources, we evaluate the performance of individual African nations on a just energy transition from 2010-2020 through an innovative DeePeR analytical framework. We examine trends of fossil fuel dependency, electricity access and distributional inequality, identifying states that stand out as exceptions. Fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions, procedural justice scores and receipt of international finance on clean energy are examined in combination and reveal novel observations. Finally, states’ commitment to restorative justice is examined, indicated by the provision of fair renewable jobs and the creation of renewable energy capacity