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Renewable energy has made significant inroads in addressing growing energy demands on the African continent. However, progress towards SDG 7 is still limited and difficult to trace. Furthermore, the results-oriented rationale of the SDGs means that both policy change and the dimension of environmental justice are not covered properly. We argue that the energy justice concept may provide a powerful tool to offset looming trade-offs and enhance the co-benefits of SDG 7 within broader transition endeavours. In doing so, we assess African energy transition processes based on a comparative mapping of African renewable energy policies in 34 countries. We investigate the scope of policy frameworks in order to analyse their contribution to greater energy justice along different justice dimensions. We then identify four transition scenarios, which reflect the challenges of integrating the justice dimension into renewable energy policies. In comparing these scenarios, we argue that SDG 7 tracking needs to consider the justice dimension to arrive at a more holistic implementation that is in line with socio-ecological justice and takes account of people's energy needs.

The first global stocktake (GST) under the Paris Agreement will be concluded at the end of 2023, and Parties and non-Party stakeholders are invited to submit their views on the approach to its final phase. The political phase of the GST could be organised by thematic area as defined by the GST, i.e., covering mitigation (including response measures); adaptation (including loss and damage); and finance flows, means of implementation and support. Alternatively, the political phase could be structured by sector. Both options are suitable for, inter alia, engaging non-Party stakeholders, taking into account equity and the best available science and incorporating the results of the technical phase of the GST. Organising the political phase by thematic area possibly facilitates high-level participation and visibility, while organising this phase by sector may facilitate the information of Parties in enhancing their NDCs in specific sectors. For the outputs of the GST, several options are possible, including the cover decision, political declarations or sectoral commitments, one or several CMA decisions, and a technical annex. Several of these options can be combined. A CMA decision, combined with a technical annex and sectoral commitments, may be most suitable for conveying specific, practicable guidance on enhancing ambition and implementation.

This paper discusses strategies to enhance the impact of the Global Stocktake (GST) under the Paris Agreement on climate change. Analyzing previous international and national policy processes, the study offers key recommendations for leveraging the GST's outcomes for future climate policies, especially in the context of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The paper emphasizes the need for coordinated efforts to ensure that the results of the GST influence national political discourse. It proposes differentiated communication strategies tailored to various stages of the NDC policy process and diverse target audiences. These recommendations include forming messaging coalitions, simplifying messages for the agenda-setting stage, and employing more comprehensive approaches to the policy formulation and decision-making stages. The study draws from examples like the UNFCCC First Periodic Review and national efforts like the French Citizens Climate Assemblies. These examples offer insights into successful and unsuccessful approaches of transferring scientific results into political action. The paper advocates for a nuanced and strategic approach to communication and emphasizes the importance of legitimacy and complexity in engaging stakeholders at different levels of decision-making.

The principle of equity plays an important role in the Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement. Equity is considered in the assessment of where Parties stand collectively, and the Global Stocktake informs Parties how they can increase ambition and address equity in their new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This paper discusses several concepts which can guide the distribution of mitigation efforts, adaptation actions, and means of implementation and support, namely the concepts of responsibility, capabilities, egalitarianism and sufficientarianism. The application of one concept only may not be sufficient to ensure equitable and ambitious climate action. In all areas of climate action, it is critical to take into account individual capabilities, which are different from country to country. It is important to use all available capabilities and opportunities and to increase them. Support plays a critical role in enhancing and facilitating the use of available capabilities. The outputs and outcomes of the Global Stocktake should address the importance of building trust and making a convincing case that a Party's response to climate change, including its new NDC, is fair and ambitious. In their new NDC targets, Parties should take into account their contribution to climate change, e.g., measured in greenhouse gas emissions per capita. In addition, Parties with high capabilities (e.g., measured in gross domestic product per capita) should make use of their resources to pursue ambitious climate action and to provide support to Parties with limited capabilities.

The Global Stocktake (GST) under the Paris Agreement periodically assesses the collective progress towards achieving the long-term goals of the Agreement. A project commissioned by the German Environment Agency accompanied all phases of the first GST, focussing on the thematic area of mitigation. An analysis of inputs for the GST highlighted that current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are insufficient to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with pathways consistent with 1.5°C global warming. Collectively, Parties will not achieve their NDC targets with the mitigation actions which are currently implemented and planned. In order to be able to formulate and achieve more ambitious targets, transformative mitigation actions need to be implemented, covering the sectors energy, transport, industry, agriculture, land use and waste. It will be important for policy makers to consider different audiences, channels, messages and tone when communicating the need for such enhanced action.