Climate Finance as a Panacea for Energy Justice: Analysing the Human Rights Issues Associated with Climate Change and Africa’s Legitimate Expectations

Climate change is undoubtedly a global challenge that demands cooperative action, as highlightedthe United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13. While the urgency of addressing climchange is universally recognized, it is essential to consider the distinct economic, social, and politichallenges faced by different regions. Africa, despite being the smallest contributor to climate chanis disproportionately affected by its impacts, including droughts, flooding, and heatwaves. Tcontinent's financial and economic difficulties further hinder its ability to fund necessary mitigatand adaptation measures. These challenges must be prominently addressed in internationegotiations to ensure that Africa receives its fair share of climate finance, a critical provisemphasized at COP27. Countries around the world face varying degrees of political, cultural, aeconomic impacts from climate change, yet compensation mechanisms often fail to reflect thdisparities in a proportionate manner. Furthermore, Africa continues to struggle with energy accwith over 600 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa lacking access to modern energy services.African nations seek to transition to cleaner energy systems to mitigate climate change, securadequate financial resources becomes imperative. Equally important is the need to ensure that ttransition is just and equitable. This article aims to contribute to the growing body of literatureclimate finance by utilizing the framework of energy justice to explore how justice principles can pa central role in the climate finance discourse. Focusing on Africa, the article examines energy accand the human rights dimensions of climate change. By applying the principles of legitimexpectation and differentiation, we argue that African countries should be granted credit for thminimal contribution to climate change. We propose that carbon credits be redirected towafunding developmental infrastructure, facilitating access to low-carbon technologies, and securclimate finance and financial transfers that do not exacerbate Africa's debt burden.