Presentation short abstract

This paper contrasts two approaches to just transitions in Africa’s renewable extractives: ILO/UNFCCC’s focus on labour and land justice within countries, and Behuria/Amin’s structural critique of global dependency. Using Ghana and Nigeria, it explores labour agency and policy implications.

Presentation long abstract

The global rush to achieve net-zero emissions has intensified demand for critical minerals, positioning Africa’s renewable extractives sector at the heart of energy transitions. This paper interrogates the notion of justice for workers in industries that enable these transitions, contrasting two conceptual approaches. The first, advanced by ILO and UNFCCC frameworks, emphasizes within-country justice – decent work, reskilling, social dialogue, and land rights – seeking to mitigate domestic labour vulnerabilities during structural shifts. The second, articulated by Pritish Behuria and grounded in Samir Amin’s theories of dependency and delinking, critiques the global political economy of transitions, highlighting rent capture by multinational firms and Africa’s marginal role in high-value segments of green value chains. Through Ghana and Nigeria as case studies, the paper examines how workers in both fading hydrocarbon sectors and emerging critical mineral industries navigate tensions between domestic energy needs, sustainability ambitions, and investor-driven transition pathways. Methodologically, it adopts an exploratory, inductive approach using existing data sources to extrapolate labour realities. Analytically, it argues that excluding labour voices while privileging investor interests undermines equitable and swift transitions. The paper concludes by proposing an integrated justice framework that combines national labour protections with structural strategies for industrial autonomy, positioning workers as agents of sustainability rather than passive recipients. This presentation is part of ongoing research co-led by me (Clement Sefa-Nyarko) and Eka Ikpe.