Toward sustainable energy transition: Unveiling the synergies of democracy, energy justice, and structural adjustment on emissions in West Africa

Abstract

The transition to sustainable energy is crucial for climate change mitigation, yet achieving net‐zero emissions remains challenging. While structural adjustments away from carbon‐intensive industries can reduce emissions, such transformations must be underpinned by democratic governance and equitable clean energy access (energy justice). Disappointedly, the interplay among structural change, democracy, and energy justice in mitigating emissions has received insufficient attention. This study examines this nexus among 15 West African countries using the Driscoll–Kraay standard estimator. Our findings indicate that democracy, structural adjustment, and energy justice significantly reduce carbon emissions, while globalization, urbanization, and international trade increase it. We recommend that governments in these nations should promote economic diversification into low‐carbon industries, ensure energy justice through electrification and clean cooking initiatives, enhance transparency and public participation in environmental decision‐making, and facilitate multi‐stakeholder dialogs on sustainable practices.