Gender Justice and Energy Transition: A Historical and Personal View

In this article, Melania Chiponda, a long-time activist on mining, gender, and energy issues in Africa, describes the roots of her work in grass-roots struggles led by women to protect their lands, environment, and livelihoods against resource extraction. While many accounts of the history of the just transition movement show it emerging from Northern trade union and environmental movements, Melania’s narrative, as well as excerpts from her related publications, remind us that grass-roots women at the front lines of energy extraction in Africa have long been fighting for justice around mining, climate, and related issues, yet these accounts are often relatively invisible in the global narrative and the now massive literature on just transitions. This article helps to fill this gap. A short, selective reading list of other articles written by African women relevant to just transition is provided for those who want to pursue this theme further.