By Ndeye Fatou Sy, LSD and Christian Hounkannou, 350Africa.org

From September 18th to 20th, in Saint Louis, Senegal, around fifteen women from various backgrounds, primarily from the fishing sector, gathered to discuss the principles developed by 350.org and partners, including Lumière Synergie for Development (LSD), for a fair and ambitious energy transition. Organized by LSD, the workshop provided an open platform for the dissemination of the Global JETP Principles developed collaboratively by civil society organizations in recipient countries to unite, build capacity, and advocate for fair and ambitious JETPs that address the needs of developing nations. Furthermore, it helped women to better understand and engage in discussions on new forms of climate finance to support countries transitioning away from coal-based energy systems, ensuring that no one is left behind, 

In July 2023, the Senegalese JETP was announced, following South Africa, Vietnam, and Indonesia — unveiled a new Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). This partnership with the International Partners Group (IPG) including France, Germany, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada will provide €2.5 billion in fresh funding to support Senegal’s transition to clean energy over the next three to five years. Aiming to increase renewable energy capacity to 40% by 2030, the JETP is a promising step forward that could greatly impact Senegal’s energy landscape.

It is crucial that these funds are directed toward renewable energy projects, not fossil gas, to align with Senegal’s sustainable development goals. Strong policies are needed to prevent greenwashing and ensure the JETP promotes real clean energy solutions. With its abundant solar and wind resources, Senegal can generate decentralized, affordable electricity and boost its renewable energy export market, creating jobs and fostering economic growth while ensuring a cleaner environment.

However, the JETP deal has flaws. Senegal’s plan to use natural gas as a transitional energy source conflicts with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Gas infrastructure locks countries into long-term fossil fuel dependence, slowing the shift to renewable energy and risking stranded assets as the world moves away from fossil fuels. This short-term strategy may benefit external entities but could leave Senegal with stranded assets, limiting economic gains and hindering its energy transition.

Caught between the climate crisis and gas exploitation, the participants criticized the lack of transparency and awareness surrounding the JETP in Senegal, expressing frustration that the process advanced to an investment plan without national consultations. They raised concerns about the financing structure, noting that 69% of the funds come as loans, which could worsen public debt and disproportionately affect vulnerable groups. Additionally, they denounced the use of gas as a transition fuel and urged the government to prioritize transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in the JETP process, while investing in renewable energy as the key to sustainable development.

The immediate next step for some of these women is attending the first Fair Finance School in Senegal from October 30th to 31st, 2024, where they will dive deeper into climate finance. This will help them better understand where public funds are going and how they are managed through institutions that are often inaccessible and deliberately complex. These barriers prevent affected communities and civil society from providing meaningful input.