Promoting a Human-Rights-Centered Just Energy Transition for Communities in Zambia's Mineral Resource Areas: A Critical Review of Policies, Challenges, and Pathways
Petros Chavula *
Africa Centre of Excellence for Climate-Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia and World Agroforestry Centre, St Eugene Office Park 39P Lake Road, P.O. Box 50977, Kabulonga, Lusaka, Zambia.
Gilbert Lungu
School of Natural Resources Management, Copperbelt University, P.O. Box 21692, Kitwe, Zambia.
Benson Turyasingura
Africa Centre of Excellence for Climate-Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia and Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Kabale University, Kabale P.O. Box 317, Uganda.
Eliyas Abdi
Africa Centre of Excellence for Climate-Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
Timothy Mwewa
Mukuba University, Itimpi, Kitwe, Copperbelt Province, P.O. Box 20382, Zambia.
Abdisha Abrahim Adame
Collage of Natural and Computational Science, Department of Biology, Haramaya University, P.O. Box. 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
Yusuf Umer
Africa Centre of Excellence for Climate-Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
Fredrick Kayusi
Department of Environmental Studies, Geography & Planning, Maasai Mara University, -861-20500, Narok, Kenya and Department of Environmental Sciences, Pwani University, -195-80108, Kilifi, Kenya.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The global transition towards clean energy has placed mineral-rich countries like Zambia at the forefront due to their vast reserves of critical minerals such as copper and cobalt. However, the benefits of mineral extraction remain unequally distributed, with communities in Zambia’s mineral resource areas facing persistent human rights violations, environmental degradation, and socio-economic marginalization. This study critically examines the policies, challenges, and pathways for ensuring a human-rights-centered Just Energy Transition (JET) in Zambia, emphasizing equity, sustainability, and social justice. The study adopts a rigorous literature review approach, applying theoretical frameworks such as the Rights-Based Approach, Resource Curse Theory, and Sustainable Development Theory to analyze governance gaps, social impacts, and environmental risks associated with mineral extraction. The research identifies key human rights concerns, including land displacement, labour rights violations, pollution, and inadequate community participation in decision-making. Furthermore, policy weaknesses—such as weak enforcement of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), lack of corporate accountability, and ineffective environmental governance—exacerbate these challenges. The findings underscore that Zambia’s energy transition must be designed to equitably distribute benefits while addressing the adverse effects of resource extraction. Policy recommendations include strengthening environmental governance, embedding FPIC into legal frameworks, ensuring corporate accountability, and enhancing community engagement in energy transition policies. Additionally, fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration among the government, private sector, and civil society is crucial to implementing a fair and inclusive transition. This study highlights the urgent need for Zambia to adopt policies that balance economic growth with human rights protection and environmental sustainability. By integrating social justice principles into its energy transition strategy, Zambia can ensure that mineral resource development contributes to sustainable livelihoods, equitable benefit-sharing, and a truly just transition for all communities.
Keywords: Just energy transition, human rights, resource governance, social justice, environmental justice, Zambia, critical minerals, sustainable development