{"id":10346,"date":"2026-10-15T07:27:42","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T07:27:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/?p=10346"},"modified":"2026-11-04T07:32:24","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T07:32:24","slug":"we-cannot-build-a-just-climate-resilient-future-on-unjust-systems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/fr\/in-the-news\/we-cannot-build-a-just-climate-resilient-future-on-unjust-systems\/","title":{"rendered":"We Cannot Build a Just, Climate-resilient Future on Unjust Systems"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A just transition for adaptation (JTfA), especially in Africa, must do more <strong><\/strong>than simply prepare for climate impacts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/unsplash-image-MWasWWI38ao-1024x684.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10348\" srcset=\"https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/unsplash-image-MWasWWI38ao-1024x684.webp 1024w, https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/unsplash-image-MWasWWI38ao-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/unsplash-image-MWasWWI38ao-768x513.webp 768w, https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/unsplash-image-MWasWWI38ao-18x12.webp 18w, https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/unsplash-image-MWasWWI38ao.webp 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Climate reparations and compensation as restoration are a matter of justice and accountability for historical and ongoing climate damage. | STOCK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It must confront the underlying systems of <strong><\/strong>extraction, structural dependencies, and <strong><\/strong>exclusion that have shaped vulnerability and <strong><\/strong>underdevelopment across the continent. <strong><\/strong>A just transition for adaptation, therefore, draws on an extensive <strong><\/strong>interrogation of the continent\u2019s history and the <strong><\/strong>present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our new report, <strong>\u2018\u2018A Just Transition for Adaptation\u2019\u2019<\/strong>, unravels the structural deficiencies <strong><\/strong>that perpetuate vulnerability and constrain the <strong><\/strong>continent from being climate resilient. It must demand a bold shift in how we think, talk <strong><\/strong>about, finance, and implement adaptation so <strong><\/strong>we can move beyond where we are now and get <strong><\/strong>to where is necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/fr\/publications\/just-transition-for-adaptation-2026\/\"><strong>READ our new report, A Just Transition for Adaptation<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Where do we want to go?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A just transition for adaptation is an opportunity to assert and reimagine a new vision positioning people, livelihoods, prosperity, and nature at the centre. This demands a bold systemic shift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Defining a just transition for adaptation in Africa<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This is a systemic, justice-centred transformation of how climate adaptation is planned, governed, financed and implemented \u2014 one that addresses the structural drivers of climate vulnerability, not only its symptoms.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A JTfA requires:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recognitional, procedural, distributive, and restorative justice across the adaptation policy cycle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>African leadership and adaptation sovereignty<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Grant-based, rights-based finance aligned with historical responsibility; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Integration of Indigenous and local knowledge systems with scientific knowledge on equal terms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.squarespace-cdn.com\/content\/v1\/657880dcd408ac495a5cc888\/1792049994760-NTGDA9BMJ6BKPVSCVEFV\/unsplash-image-LB9dklK0xb0.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.498800959232614;width:2500px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>The report, A Just Transition for Adaptation, calls for abandoning neocolonial mindsets and embracing Africa and the Global South as active leaders, innovators, and rights holders. | STOCK<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The aim is to transition to systems and structures that protect people, respect rights and diverse knowledge systems, restore ecosystems, and reduce inequalities. These must enable adaptation that is transformative, redistributive, and accepted as a global responsibility, while being locally determined and driven. It calls for abandoning neocolonial mindsets and embracing Africa and the Global South as active leaders, innovators, and rights holders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These aspirations align closely with and uphold the African Union (AU) visionary Agenda 2063, which foresees an \u2018integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own people and representing a dynamic force in the international arena. A JTfA can offer a critical pathway to realising that future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These ideas draw on Africa\u2019s rich intellectual heritage and IK, regional diversity, and lived experiences, in addition to insights from our interviewees, extensive research referenced for this report, Agenda 2063, and the Just Transition: A Climate, Energy and Development Vision for Africa report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/fr\/publications\/just-transition-a-climate-energy-and-development-vision-for-africa\/\"><strong>READ: The Just Transition Report<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The key principles and components for a just transition for adaptation include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Recognitional justice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Decolonising and democratising<\/strong> <strong>global climate governance<\/strong> and climate finance mechanisms <strong><\/strong>means confronting climate injustices where Africa bears disproportionate impacts yet remains marginalised in global decision making. It calls for inclusive structures that ensure equal voice and agency for African actors in shaping climate solutions that transcend mere survival to foster long-term prosperity and resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Procedural justice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Inclusion and meaningful participation of marginalised groups<\/strong> begins with recognising and responding to the differentiated vulnerabilities of women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and other marginalised groups. This links to, and must be a core dimension of, adaptation sovereignty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Distributive justice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Equitable resource distribution based on need and climate risk<\/strong> is a matter of justice. Resources must not be <strong><\/strong>allocated to countries based on institutional capacity, wealth, or political <strong><\/strong>influence. Internationally, this means scaling <strong><\/strong>up grant-based adaptation finance aligned <strong><\/strong>with historical responsibility, the CBDR-RC <strong><\/strong>principle, and equity principles under the <strong><\/strong>UNFCCC, without imposing conditionalities <strong><\/strong>or deepening already burdensome debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Restorative justice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Climate reparations and compensation as restoration are a matter of justice<\/strong> and accountability for historical and ongoing climate damage. They are not aid. Restoring harm that climate impacts inflict on communities requires compensation through grant-based, grant-equivalent support, debt cancellation, legal mechanisms, recognition of Africa\u2019s unique climate circumstances, and equitable access to, and ownership of, technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How do we get there? Pathways and leverage points<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Achieving a JTfA requires pathways that translate justice principles into concrete outcomes. Insights from our research and interviews reveal that the four justice dimensions are deeply interconnected rather than siloed. Pathways for change must, therefore, operate and engage with those four dimensions holistically across all scales, ranging from local to global, to ensure inclusive, ongoing, and fair adaptation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Knowledge justice, inclusive governance with a strong emphasis on bottom-up mobilisation at the national level, and resource redistribution and compensation emerge as critical pathways for advancing a Just Transition for Adaptation for Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/fr\/publications\/just-transition-for-adaptation-2026\/\"><strong>READ our new report, A Just Transition for Adaptation<\/strong><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Just Transition for Adaptation (JTfA), especially in Africa, must do more than simply prepare for climate impacts.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":10347,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[28],"topic":[30],"class_list":["post-10346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-in-the-news","tag-adaptation","topic-climate-justice"],"acf":{"url":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10346","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/45"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10346"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10346\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10349,"href":"https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10346\/revisions\/10349"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10347"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10346"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10346"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10346"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/powershiftafrica.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=10346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}