A Just Energy Transition to Facilitate Household Energy Access and Alleviate Energy Poverty

Dr Nthabiseng Mohlakoana, Researcher, Centre for Sustainability Transitions, Stellenbosch University (South Africa) & Peta Wolpe, Urban Energy and Climate Change Practitioner (South Africa)

Note: Internal event not open to external attendees.

Many in the Global South and some in the Global North cannot afford clean and sustainable energy, and many live in a state of energy poverty. A just energy transition is a chance for economies to start again with a clean slate and do things differently. In the Global South, where many cities are growing and where generation is inadequate, the opportunities abound. This policy brief argues that energy poverty and access must be brought boldly into the Just Transition debate. Only then is change possible. The brief offers an overview of current understanding of what constitutes a just energy transition and what is meant by energy poverty and access by giving a snapshot of the European Union and Sub-Saharan Africa context. The brief concludes with outlining some of the policy gaps.

Biography

Nthabiseng Mohlakoana has over 18 years of experience in research focusing on energy policy implementation, energy access and use as well as gender mainstreaming in the energy sector. She is currently engaged in research focusing on just energy transitions and socio-economic issues associated with this, including household energy access and use, energy poverty and livelihoods. In 2014 she completed her PhD study at the University of Twente’s Department of Governance and Technology for Sustainability (CSTM) where she analysed the implementation process of the Free Basic Alternative Energy (FBAE) policy by local municipalities in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Peta Wolpe has over 12 years of experience in the field of urban energy and climate change, including: gender; energy poverty and access; low carbon development and policy engagement. She has worked across the board from poor communities to high level stakeholders and politicians. She is currently a Trustee of the Harold Wolpe Memorial Trust and an Associate Director of the SouthSouthNorth (SSN) organisation. She was the Managing Director of Sustainable Energy Africa (SEA) for over a decade. Peta has a degree in Sociology from the University of Essex and a Master of Science in Social Administration and Social Work Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

This event will take place from 5:00 to 6:30 pm on Zoom - All are Welcome

Event Recording

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Contact email: ledc@soas.ac.uk