Introduction
The conference "Just Transition: The Global Energy Transition from a Regional Perspective," held in Maputo, Mozambique, from October 10 to 13, 2024, brought together an international and interdisciplinary group of academics, policymakers, and practitioners to explore how the global shift toward renewable energy is reshaping resource exporting regions. Hosted by the Pedagogical University of Maputo and organized in collaboration with international partners such as the German Research Foundation (DFG) through the Programme Point Sud, the University of Marburg, the University of Giessen, and the Colombian-German Peace Institute (CAPAZ), the event provided a space for critical dialogues on the political, socioeconomic, and environmental dimensions of a just energy transition.
The conference aimed to broaden the scope of just transition debates, emphasizing the need to incorporate regional and local perspectives from the Global South, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa, into global discourses. It questioned the impacts of transitioning to low-carbon energy systems in resource-dependent economies and the socio-environmental challenges that accompany this shift. Through a combination of keynote lectures, panels, and round tables, the event created a platform for interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral dialogue that underscored the need for inclusivity and equity in the energy transition.
The event brought together over 20 participants from a diverse range of countries, including Mozambique, Germany, the UK, South Africa, Kenya, the Netherlands, Portugal, Malawi, Ghana, Uganda, and Ethiopia. The event featured contributions from these regions, reflecting the conference's international and interdisciplinary nature, spanning fields such as anthropology, geography, economics, social science, and engineering. The university setting enabled students and colleagues from the Pedagogical University of Maputo to join the discussions, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas. Over three days, attendees presented and debated research on key topics such as energy poverty, extractivism, and socio-economic justice issues at stake. The final day included an excursion to the NEER UP Photovoltaic Systems Project from the Pedagogical University of Maputo, where participants toured the facilities, shared insights with local representatives over lunch, and discussed future collaborations within the group.
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