Rethinking African Green Growth

As the global shift toward a green economy accelerates, the demand for critical raw minerals such as cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements has surged, placing Africa at the center of a new geopolitical landscape. Resource-rich countries on the continent are increasingly becoming focal points of competition among global powers, including the EU, the US, and China. This growing interest brings with it significant geopolitical, economic, environmental, and security implications. This book offers insights into the evolving geopolitics surrounding Africa’s critical raw minerals within the context of the global green transition. It critically examines the concept of “green growth” as it applies to Africa, exploring challenges related to resource security, the risk of perpetuating historical patterns of exploitation, and the environmental and social impacts of large-scale mining activities. Ultimately, this book seeks to answer a pressing question: Is Africa’s green transition truly sustainable, or is it another form of resource extraction under the banner of sustainability? The first part of the book provides a macro-level perspective, focusing on the global race for African resources and the broader concept of green growth. The second part presents a series of case studies that explore the topic from socioeconomic, developmental, environmental, and legal angles.