The green energy transition : a threat to national security in Southern Africa

Abstract

The United Nations Development Program’s Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union Agenda 2063 require states to transition from fossil-based to renewable energy due to the negative environmental impacts of these fuels. Based on the lack of adequate research into the negative implications of the energy transition, is it possible that through mitigating one threat, states are creating another threat? This research explores how the green energy transition can do as much good as it can equally cause harm, specifically in the example of Southern African countries. The research analyses the negative impacts of the green energy transition to both South Africa and Mozambique, two countries experiencing different electricity challenges, but affected similar by poor green energy transition considerations. Using the above country examples, the research concludes that the green energy transition has a high potential to threaten the national security of a country, as the examples give insight into the importance of adequate research and policy planning at government level. The research presents six recommendations to take into consideration at the policy making level to ensure that these potential threats to national security are addressed. The six recommendations include: 1. African Solutions for African Problems 2. Climate Adaptation over Climate Mitigation 3. Accountability 4. Policy Restructuring 5. Ensuring a Bottom-Up Approach 6. Job Redirection. These can be taken into consideration for further studies into mitigation strategies and policy formulation as they bring the focus back to ensuring the security of the state is taken into consideration at all levels.