The Chair of the AGN, Nana Dr Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, said the emerging global transition presented both risks and opportunities for African economies, making it important for just transition discussions to consider how the continent could participate meaningfully in the new green economy.

The just transition is a framework and goal to ensure that the shift from a fossil fuel-reliant economy to a clean, climate-neutral economy is fair, equitable, and inclusive, leaving no workers, communities, or vulnerable regions behind.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day AGN Just Transition Technical Workshop in Accra on Monday, Dr Amoah noted that Africa’s approach to just transition should be anchored in its development realities, including industrialisation, economic diversification, energy access, decent employment, adaptation and resilience.

The workshop is examining key elements of the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM), established following the COP30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil and is expected to contribute to Africa’s preparations for COP31.

He said the transition should also provide space for African countries to add value to their natural resources and strengthen their participation in emerging global supply chains.

“Africa must not remain simply a supplier of raw materials while value addition, technology and jobs are created elsewhere,” he said.

Dr Amoah identified trade as an important dimension of the just transition, noting that the shift towards low-carbon production was already creating new standards and measures that could influence the competitiveness of African economies.

At the same time, he said, the transition could open opportunities for green industrialisation, mineral value addition, regional supply chains and increased participation in emerging green industries.

The AGN Chair said the challenge was, therefore, to ensure that climate action and economic transformation advanced together.

He said just transition should not be viewed solely as an energy issue, but as part of a broader transformation of African economies and societies.

Dr Amoah noted that the workshop, which was also considering the role of finance, made it necessary for adequate resources to be provided to translate the objectives of the JTM into effective implementation.

He said adaptation and resilience should similarly remain central to the transition, given the climate impacts already being experienced across Africa.

Nana Dr Amoah said the technical discussions would help African negotiators to develop a common position on the purpose, functions, modalities and institutional arrangements of the JTM ahead of COP31.

The outcomes would also contribute to African submissions to the UNFCCC on the Mechanism and the review of the Just Transition Work Programme.

The workshop is organised in partnership with the Office of the Special Envoy for Climate Change of Kenya, with support from Power Shift Africa and the Global Wind Energy Council.

He said the discussions would provide an opportunity for Africa to develop technically grounded proposals that could help shape the global just transition agenda while reflecting the continent’s development aspirations.