By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and Oil Watch Africa have called for accountability, transparency and community participation in the global just transition process, insisting that the shift to renewable energy must not create new forms of exploitation.
A report of the engagement, compiled by Ms. Kome Odhomor of HOMEF, said the call was made during a session titled “Accountability in Just Transition Campaign,” held on November 12, 2026, at Room 15 of the ongoing COP31 climate conference in Turkey.
Participants said a just transition must go beyond replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy, stressing that communities must retain control over their natural resources, livelihoods and economic opportunities.
They urged governments, parliamentarians, corporations, civil society organisations and trade unions to fulfil their responsibilities in protecting community rights and ensuring accountability in transition policies.
The meeting expressed concern over corporate appropriation of the just transition concept, warning that polluting industries could use climate action initiatives to legitimise continued fossil fuel extraction and carbon trading.
Participants cited the Yasuní Initiative and Yasunize Campaign as examples of community-driven advocacy, insisting that transition alternatives must reflect the aspirations of affected communities.
On workers’ welfare, they demanded decent wages, social protection, collective bargaining, freedom of association and skills development, while calling for the inclusion of informal sector workers.
They also demanded transparency and corporate accountability, insisting that companies must provide environmental remediation, compensation and livelihood restoration rather than abandon communities after resource extraction.
Participants advocated the Good Life as an alternative development model, prioritising ecological harmony, community rights, cultural values and environmental restoration over economic accumulation.
Young people were encouraged to use technology, creativity and technical skills to develop practical, community-driven solutions and alternative development pathways.
The meeting called for women’s meaningful participation in transition planning, noting that women in oil-producing communities bear significant environmental, health and livelihood consequences of pollution.
Participants also demanded the inclusion of persons with disabilities, older people and other vulnerable groups in transition policies and implementation.
They recommended intensified public education, community capacity-building and platforms that enable affected communities to express their demands and participate directly in policy discussions.
The meeting further called for enforceable corporate accountability mechanisms, compensation for affected communities, protection of workers’ rights and stronger collaboration among civil society groups, trade unions and community movements.
Participants concluded that a genuine just transition must transform the economic and social structures responsible for inequality and environmental destruction, stressing that changing energy sources without addressing exploitation cannot deliver justice.
