Scoping papers: Human rights and energy transition

While Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest energy access rates in the world, the development of renewable energy in Africa has been increasing over the last decade, with many countries in the region working to increase renewable energy capacity.

Frequently, the development of and transition to renewable energy is positioned as ‘inherently good’ due to the potential contribution of the green transition to mitigating climate change and enhancing energy access. Taking a closer look at energy transition dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa, however, it becomes evident that the full range of actual and potential human rights impacts are at play.

In this context, these scoping papers explore some of the human rights dimensions of renewable energy and the energy transition in Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania.

The papers examine the structure of the energy sector; human rights context for renewable energy projects; and identify possible state, business and investor pathways to mitigate risks of human rights abuse in the context of renewable energy investments, as well as opportunities for contributing towards an energy transition that is respectful and supportive of human right. As such, the papers seek to serve as a resource for stakeholder engagement and discussion in working towards a human rights-based energy transition.

On 1-2 September 2022, the Danish Institute for Human Rights hosted a multi-stakeholder roundtable with the Tanzanian Women in Energy Network in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The roundtable convened stakeholders from the governments of Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar, the business sector and civil society, and used the scoping paper as a basis for engaging in discussions and group work to reflect on the energy landscape in Tanzania, as well as salient human rights issues associated with the energy transition. Reflections from the participants were integrated into the scoping paper. The outcome report captures the highlights of the roundtable.

These publications are part of the Responsible Business Conduct in Sub-Saharan Africa project, made possible thanks to the support from the Permanent Mission of Denmark to the United Nations in Geneva.