Green energy must deliver jobs, fair wages, social protection, ITUC-Africa

Leaders from Africa's trade union movement convened in Nairobi, Kenya, for a three-day meeting focused on ensuring a just transition to green energy across the continent. The gathering, organized by the International Trade Union Confederation-Africa (ITUC-Africa), brought together workers' representatives, international partners, and stakeholders to address how Africa can embrace clean energy without leaving workers and communities behind.

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Africa’s transition to clean energy must be more than a shift from fossil fuels to renewable sources. It must become a pathway to industrialisation, decent jobs, fair wages, social protection and affordable electricity for millions of Africans still excluded from reliable energy access.

The central message emerging from the deliberations was clear: Africa's shift to clean energy must be more than a technological change. It needs to be a catalyst for industrialization, creating decent jobs, ensuring fair wages, and providing social protection. Participants highlighted that with over 600 million people still lacking electricity, the energy transition presents a critical development opportunity to transform economies and improve lives. However, they cautioned against viewing it solely as a climate obligation.

A significant warning was issued regarding the potential for old inequalities to resurface under the guise of green initiatives. Without deliberate policies and the active involvement of workers, Africa could find itself exporting raw materials and generating clean energy while its workforce remains in precarious employment and communities continue to face poverty. ITUC-Africa insists that a 'just transition' must place people at its core, ensuring that green investments translate into tangible benefits like decent employment, fair pay, and affordable power for all Africans.

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Without deliberate policies and the active participation of workers, Africa risks reproducing old inequalities under a new green label, exporting critical minerals, attracting investments and generating clean energy while workers remain trapped in precarious employment and communities continue to struggle with poverty.

Akhator Joel Odigie, ITUC-Africa General Secretary, and Deputy President Rose Omamo, speaking at the opening ceremony, called for workers to be central to Africa's energy transition. They urged governments to guarantee that the continent's green future yields concrete advantages for its people. Odigie emphasized that industrialization is key to Africa's liberation and development, stressing the need for practical solutions that balance economic growth with environmental protection. This requires substantial investment in technology and skills to achieve industrialization without exacerbating the climate crisis.

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Africa’s energy challenge is inseparable from the continent’s quest for industrialisation. Industrialisation is central to our liberation and development.