Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy (The)

Editorial Comments

Pedi Obani — 2025-03-26

No Abstract.

Gender Equity in Brazilian Energy Transition

Leilane Serratine Grubba — 2025-03-26

This paper examines the intersection of gender equality and energy
transition within the Brazilian context. It offers a comprehensive review of
the existing literature on energy transitions and their associated gender
perspectives, while also identifying significant gaps and challenges specific
to Brazil. The authors conducted systematic searches across several
databases. The search yielded 9,012 studies after applying stringent inclusion
criteria. The review encompasses various discussions surrounding key
concepts such as gender, equity, equality, empowerment, and patriarchy. It
highlights dynamics that foster girls' leadership and the formation of
gender-equitable groups, as well as the importance of promoting respect for
diverse identities. The energy sector emerges as a critical area, offering
future employment opportunities for both men and women. Additionally,
the paper emphasizes the value of initiatives such as site visits to renewable
energy institutions and the facilitation of talks by women professionals in
STEM and renewable energy fields. In conclusion, this work underscores
the necessity for further research aimed at enhancing legal frameworks that
support gender equality within the oil, gas, and energy sectors, ultimately
contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable future.

Making a Case for (En)Gendering Energy Transition: Legal Basis and Levers for Change

Pedi Obani — 2025-03-26

Energy transition is a pressing global priority for a variety of environmental,
social and economic reasons. The current energy transition discourse is mainly
linked to addressing the climate change crisis which disproportionately affects
populations that are in vulnerable situations. Moreover, achieving energy
transition requires an inclusive approach that tackles the structural causes of
vulnerability. In connection with this, gender inequality is closely linked with
adverse climate change impacts, energy poverty, and other complex human
development challenges which need to be overcome for a just energy transition.
The UN 2030 agenda prioritises gender equality as a Sustainable Development
Goal (SDG) alongside other goals on climate action, energy security, etc.
Taking the issue of women’s vulnerability to climate change and related risks in
the energy transition process, this paper recognises women as crucial
stakeholders and agents of change for a just transition. Against this backdrop,
the paper interrogates the intersections between gender, climate change and
energy transition particularly focusing on the legal basis for advocating for
gender equality and its relevance in the international energy transition and
climate change governance framework. The paper explores the two key
approaches that have been adopted to integrate gender in climate action,
namely: reporting under the UNFCCC framework and strengthening women’s
leadership in climate change governance. In light of the prevailing gender gaps,
this paper proposes four levers of change to address gender vulnerability and
capacity gaps for a gender just energy transition through promoting worker’s
rights and safety; education; gender inclusiveness; and intersectionality,
particularly at the national and subnational levels.

Decolonizing Power: Integrating Gender Justice in Sustainable Energy Frameworks in Sub-Saharan Africa

Adenike A. Akinsemolu — 2025-03-26

Sub-Saharan Africa ranks high on the list of regions with the highest levels
of gender inequality, performing poorly in gender balance in crucial indices,
including educational attainment, healthcare, political empowerment, and
economic participation. This level of gender inequality is also evident in the
region’s energy governance, such that women across the continent are
disproportionately represented in careers and leadership positions in the
energy sectors of their respective countries, less knowledgeable and involved
in household, community, and national energy decisions, and
disproportionately burdened by energy-related domestic chores.
Consequently, women lack equitable access to energy resources, have little
or no influence over energy policies, and their needs are not considered in
crucial decisions related to energy access, affordability, and sustainability.
This article explores the causes, effects, and potential ways of reducing these
gender disparities. This is achieved by exploring the power structures
responsible for the disparities from the perspective of various feminist
theories, including the feminist theory, the matrix of domination framework,
and the black feminist thought theory, and frameworks. Policy changes to
address the pervasive gender disparities in the energy sector are proposed
and potential problems that may arise in efforts to mainstream gender in
energy policies highlighted.

Trends in Gender, Feminism and Energy Transition in the Global South

Anthony S. Aladekomo — 2025-03-26

This paper examines gender, feminism and energy transition in the Global
South. It aims at unravelling how discrimination against and marginalisation
of the female gender has been impeding energy transition in the Global
South notwithstanding the international, regional and municipal initiatives in
recent decades to combat, minimise or eradicate environmental hazards and
inequality. The methodology adopted is a doctrinal analysis of both primary
and secondary sources of law. Environmental justice provides the theoretical
foundation for the research. The research found out that, despite the many
global, regional and national initiatives and legal and institutional
frameworks in place to ensure that the female gender is not marginalised or
left behind in the global energy transition aimed at attaining sustainable
development for all regions and nations, the females still encounter a myriad
of environmental injustice in many countries in the Global South. This
constitutes a significant drawback to the globally well-recognised needed
shift in energy consumption to renewable sources. The study therefore
makes recommendations emphasising the need and strategies to proactively
enhance the active participation of the Global South women in the energy
transition agenda, and in accordance with the provisions of the relevant
treaties and the gender equality provision in the Sustainable Development
Goals 2030.

Electricity and ICT in West Africa: Implication for Female Employment

Omowumi Omodunni Idowu — 2025-03-26

The importance of electricity and ICT access in achieving gender equality and
sustainable development cannot be overemphasized. While ICTs tends to create
opportunities for women by enabling their participation in social, political and
economic processes, electricity access alleviates women’s time poverty and
creates opportunities for labour force participation. This study investigates this
assertion by examining the effects of female access to electricity and ICT
diffusion on female employment in sixteen (16) West African countries from
1990 to 2020. It disaggregates female employment into three; agriculture,
industry and service. The study sources data from World Bank Data Bank and
conducts both static analysis (Pooled Effect) and dynamic analysis using Panel
ARDL procedures of Mean Group (MG), Pooled Mean Group (PMG) and
Dynamic Fixed Effect (DFE) having confirmed the stationarity of variables.
Result from dynamic analysis shows that all variables are positive and they are
long run determinants of female employment in West Africa. Sectoral analysis
reveals that female access to electricity discourages female employment in
agriculture while it improves female employment in the service sector. On the
other hand, ICT diffusion in West African countries impacts female employment
negatively in the agriculture and industrial sectors but boosts female employment
in the service sector. While female education is a negative determinant of female
employment in the highlighted sectors of the economy in the long run, fertility
has a strong and negative impact on female employment in the three sectors of
the economy in the short run. It is suggested that governments in West African
countries should expedite efforts in expanding female energy access through
capacity building, partnership with local stakeholders and creating a conducive
environment for women entrepreneurs. This will ensure a smooth energy
transition in the region. Also, the agriculture sector should be formalised to
encourage female employment.

Examining Business Accountability for Gender Justice in the Context of Energy Transition in Africa

Chairman Okoloise — 2025-03-26

In the context of the ongoing global energy transition, the responsibility for
addressing gender justice cannot only be that of states but also of all actors
whose activities are capable of fuelling unequal access to economic
opportunities. This is especially so of business enterprises that contribute to
gender injustice through various practices and policies that exacerbate existing
gender disparities. As a result, this article seeks to clarify the role and
responsibilities of businesses in fostering gender equality within the evolving
landscape of energy production and consumption. Through a comprehensive
analysis of corporate practices, policies, and initiatives, the research seeks to
identify the mechanisms through which businesses can contribute to gender
justice while navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by the
transition to a more sustainable energy future in Africa. The analysis employs
doctrinal methodology and a multidisciplinary approach that essentially
integrate perspectives from business ethics, gender studies, and environmental
sustainability to provide nuanced insights into the complex interplay between
business actions, gender dynamics, and the imperative of a responsible energy
transition. Ultimately, the article aims to contribute to the scholarly discourse
on the ethical dimensions of corporate behaviour in the context of societal
transformations, by advocating for increased business accountability and
gender inclusivity in the pursuit of sustainable and equitable energy solutions.

Mainstreaming the Gender Dimension of Climate Change under the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Mandates: Appraising State Reporting Guidelines and State Reports

Muluken Kassahun Amid — 2025-03-26

The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (African
Commission) is one of the African Union's (AU) main human rights organs,
charged for promoting, protecting, and interpreting the rights guaranteed
under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. The African
Commission has also been tasked with reviewing state reports on the
implementation status of the African Charter and the Protocol to the African
Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol). This article
examines the extent to which African Commission state reporting guidelines
and state reports submitted to the African Commission depict the impacts of
climate change on women's rights. The study used the doctrinal and qualitative
research approach. Although African women suffer differently and
disproportionately as a result of climate change, the African Charter and
Maputo Protocol do not specifically acknowledge the impact of climate change
on women's rights. The African Commission is empowered to close such
disparities through soft power methods such as issuing resolutions and
guidelines, reviewing state reports, and entertaining cases. The article analyses
state reporting guidelines, state reports, and the African Commission's
concluding observations and recommendations demonstrates that both states
and the Commission do not appropriately account for the adverse impacts of
climate change on women's rights. The study also reveals potential ways for
integrating climate change and women's rights into state reporting guidelines
and state reports.

Gendered Implications of Climate Change: Empowering Women in Climate Law and Policymaking in Nigeria

Opeyemi A. Gbadegesin — 2025-03-26

Climate change presents significant challenges to societies worldwide, and
addressing it requires the inclusion of diverse voices and perspectives. This study
focuses on the under-representation of women in Nigeria's climate policy and
decision-making processes and its implications for effective climate governance.
Drawing on the recognition of the importance of women's participation in
international climate negotiations, this paper examines Nigeria's legal and
institutional frameworks aimed at promoting gender equality and female
empowerment in climate action. Through analytical legal research, the study
investigates how these frameworks either enable or hinder women's engagement
and representation in climate governance. Findings reveal that excluding
women's voices leads to inadequate gender-responsive and equitable approaches
to climate adaptation and mitigation. The under-representation of women in
Nigerian governance institutions exacerbates the problem, creating barriers to
their involvement in decision-making. To address these challenges, the study
emphasises the need for legal and policy frameworks that facilitate women's
participation and representation and foster supportive environments for their
leadership and agency in climate change contexts. The paper concludes by
recommending strategies such as developing gender-responsive climate policies,
enhancing women's leadership and capacity, and fostering inclusive networks and
partnerships to promote gender equality and climate justice.

Constitutional Design in Nigeria: An Imperative for Eliminating Energy Poverty of Women

Hilary Okoeguale — 2025-03-26

Traditional gender roles and cultural expectations in Nigeria push women to the
front lines in the quest for energy but they remain sidelined at decision-making
arenas concerning energy transition initiatives. A closer look at the composition
of the policy-making and regulatory agencies of government in the energy sector
reveals that 14% are women and 86% men. As a corollary energy transition laws
and policies do not effectively reflect the energy needs of women in Nigeria.
Consequently, women are not adequately enabled by the government to access
clean-energy sources and are left with no option than to continue the
indiscriminate use of biomass thereby risking their lives. Accordingly, the aim of
realizing carbon-neutrality is increasingly difficult for Nigeria. An attempt to
force a constitutional amendment which was aimed at creating reserved seats for
women to increase representation of women in the National Assembly was
stillborn. This paper seeks to proffer a solution to the problem of women’s
under-representation in the energy transition dialogue and, ultimately, the
problem of poor access to clean-energy. Utilizing the doctrinal research
methodology, this paper examines available literature including the Nigerian,
Rwandan, and Zimbabwean Constitutions, and finds that a democratic
constitutional design process that is well managed and given enough time to seep
into the social, cultural and political life in Nigeria would lead to a more durable
and democratic constitution which guarantees equitable representation and
addresses the energy needs of women. The process adopted in Rwanda and
Zimbabwe provides insight into constitutional drafting and affirmative action for
women in governance.