Climate Action in Southern Africa: Implications for Climate Justice and Just Transition

Using climate justice as an analytical tool, this volume examines the role of local mitigation and adaptation actions in Southern Africa in furthering climate-resilient development.

Climate Action in Southern Africa examines the intrinsic connection between local climate actions, climate-resilient development and strides towards a just transition. The theoretical grounding in climate justice allows the authors to analyse whether current climate actions in Africa are truly effective for the poor and marginalised whose lives and livelihoods are impacted by a climate crisis largely not of their making. The authors also question the extent to which pathways to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 are achievable in Africa and ask whether this can be attained without undermining livelihoods and human development. Overall, this book argues that for any transition to be a just transition, it has to be aligned with the pursuit of sustainable development and climate justice for current and future generations on the African continent.

Drawing out key factors including politics, gender and migration, this volume will be of great interest to students and scholars of climate change, climate justice and African development.