Ellen Fungisai Chipango is a scholar of the communal ethic of African ubuntu – the belief that we are at our best as individuals and society if we work for the good of others, alongside others. She researches ways in which ubuntu can be applied in real life situations involving energy. In this article, she discusses her latest publication about applying an ubuntu feminist approach to rolling out renewable energy. Ubuntu feminism is the idea that everyone is obliged to care for each other’s wellbeing.
What are the limitations in the transition to renewable energy?
One limitation is that the move to green energy will not necessarily benefit women. For example, women in sub-Saharan Africa do more work at home and therefore spend more time than men working on heating the home and using energy for cooking. They walk longer distances to collect firewood, risking their safety at night when they are exposed to sexual and gender-based violence.
