The Three Ps

The 'Three Ps' framework (Principles, Policies and laws, and Practicalities) outlines a community-centric approach to the Just Energy Transition in Africa. It argues that for a transition to be truly 'just,' it must move beyond simple decarbonization to address historical injustices, ensure energy democracy, and protect the land and human rights of local communities. The guide emphasizes the necessity of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), the implementation of community-owned renewable energy (CORE) models, and the provision of climate finance in the form of grants rather than loans to avoid further debt for Global South countries.

• The current energy landscape in Africa is characterized by systemic injustices, including reliance on polluting fossil fuels, lack of energy access for many, and the exploitation of land and resources for export markets or renewable energy projects without community benefit.
• A Just Energy Transition in Africa differs from Global North models because it is primarily about 'energy development'—creating new energy sources while protecting human rights—rather than simply transitioning away from existing fossil fuel production.
• The framework identifies four types of justice essential for a JET: distributive justice (fair distribution of costs and benefits), recognitional justice (respect for needs and histories), procedural justice (inclusive decision-making), and restorative justice (redress for historical harms).
• Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) is a critical legal principle that must be upheld, granting communities the right to be fully informed and the power to give or withhold consent for projects affecting their land and well-being.
• Energy Democracy is defined as a renewable energy system governed by people, emphasizing community control to ensure affordable and necessary electricity for a dignified life.
• The document warns that the transition could fail if it leads to 'climate colonialism,' where transition mineral mining (e.g., copper, cobalt) causes environmental damage and community displacement similar to fossil fuel extraction, or if countries take on unsustainable loans.
• Community-owned Renewable Energy (CORE) models, such as mini-grids, co-operatives, and worker-owned independent power producers, are proposed to address energy inequality and allow communities to generate income through feed-in tariffs.
• The framework advocates for reparations from the Global North to Africa, suggesting a 'global south energy equalisation fund' to subsidize infrastructure and technology transfer, based on the 'polluter pays' principle.
• Gender-specific planning is essential because women are disproportionately impacted by energy poverty, often performing unpaid labor to secure energy for cooking and household needs.

APA

Martens, C., & Nel, L. (n.d.). The Three Ps. Natural Justice. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-3-Ps_JET-Framework-Community-Booklet_Digital_FA_final.pdf

Chicago

Martens, Claire, and Lauren Nel. The Three Ps. Natural Justice, n.d. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-3-Ps_JET-Framework-Community-Booklet_Digital_FA_final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Martens |first1=Claire |last2=Nel |first2=Lauren |title=The Three Ps |publisher=Natural Justice |url=https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-3-Ps_JET-Framework-Community-Booklet_Digital_FA_final.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{martensndthree, author = {Martens, Claire and Nel, Lauren}, title = {{The Three Ps}}, institution = {Natural Justice}, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-3-Ps_JET-Framework-Community-Booklet_Digital_FA_final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }