Organized by the FAU Research Center for Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU CHREN), our inter- and transdisciplinary Human Rights Colloquium brings together scholars and practitioners to discuss pressing issues in human rights research and practice. Events are invitation-only and organized on a rolling basis. On 18 June 2025, FAU CHREN Visiting Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Dr Oluwatoyin Adejonwo spoke on the topic of “Just Transition as a Social Protection Strategy: Enhancing Resilience and Livelihoods in Climate-Affected Communities in Africa”
Event recap
In the latest edition of the FAU CHREN Colloquium Dr. Oluwatoyin Adejonwo presented her newest research project zooming in on the nexus of Just Transition, Social Protection and Climate Justice. In outlining key legal norms and discussing different aspects of Just Transition, Dr. Adejonwo highlighted how tracing the latest respective developments in Kenia, Nigeria, and South Africa can help mapping the country-specific understanding of and commitment to social and environmental justice. Subsequent debates among all participants further elaborated on the topic including a critical discussion of the concept “Just Transition” as well as a comparison to Latin American cases.
Context: Just Transition, Climate Justice and Human Rights
This research aims to interrogate the Just Transition framework of select African Countries against climate justice principles, emphasizing fairness and equity in addressing climate change. These principles include respecting human rights, promoting social and environmental justice, and ensuring a just transition to a low-carbon economy. Specifically, the Just Transition frameworks will be assessed on mitigation and adaptation policies and strategies, and social protection mechanisms.
Dr. Oluwatyin Adejonwo. FAU CHREN Visiting Research Fellow. (Bild: privat, Bearbeitung: FAU/nw).
About Dr Oluwatoyin Adejonwo
Dr Oluwatoyin Adejonwo is currently a FAU CHREN Visiting Research Fellow, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, an honorary Senior Lecturer in Law at the Dundee Law School, University of Dundee, UK, a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and the founding Director of the Centre for Climate Change and Sustainable Development (3CSD). Oluwatoyin is currently the Co-Chair of the Climate Mobility Africa Research Network (CMARN), a multidisciplinary, bi-lingual (EN+FR) network of researchers and policy makers working on displacement and migration in the context of disasters and climate change in Africa. Oluwatoyin recently presented a paper at the Harvard Law School’s Climate Justice Series 2024, where she presented a paper titled ‘Climate Change as an Amplifier of Social Disparities – The Role of Adaptation, Mitigation, and Loss and Damage Fund in Africa.’
About the FAU CHREN Human Rights Colloquium
The series provides a space for scholarly exchange on current human rights issues. Colloquia are organised on a rolling basis and are co-convened by Dr Janina Heaphy and Professor Eva Pils. This session was chaired by Dr. Janina Heaphy.
Enquiries should be directed to the co-conveners or to humanrights@fau.de.
Organized by the FAU Research Center for Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU CHREN), our inter- and transdisciplinary Human Rights Colloquium brings together scholars and practitioners to discuss pressing issues in human rights research and practice. Events are invitation-only and organized on a rolling basis. On 18 June 2025, FAU CHREN Visiting Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Dr Oluwatoyin Adejonwo spoke on the topic of “Just Transition as a Social Protection Strategy: Enhancing Resilience and Livelihoods in Climate-Affected Communities in Africa”
Event recap
In the latest edition of the FAU CHREN Colloquium Dr. Oluwatoyin Adejonwo presented her newest research project zooming in on the nexus of Just Transition, Social Protection and Climate Justice. In outlining key legal norms and discussing different aspects of Just Transition, Dr. Adejonwo highlighted how tracing the latest respective developments in Kenia, Nigeria, and South Africa can help mapping the country-specific understanding of and commitment to social and environmental justice. Subsequent debates among all participants further elaborated on the topic including a critical discussion of the concept “Just Transition” as well as a comparison to Latin American cases.
Context: Just Transition, Climate Justice and Human Rights
This research aims to interrogate the Just Transition framework of select African Countries against climate justice principles, emphasizing fairness and equity in addressing climate change. These principles include respecting human rights, promoting social and environmental justice, and ensuring a just transition to a low-carbon economy. Specifically, the Just Transition frameworks will be assessed on mitigation and adaptation policies and strategies, and social protection mechanisms.
About Dr Oluwatoyin Adejonwo
Dr Oluwatoyin Adejonwo is currently a FAU CHREN Visiting Research Fellow, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, an honorary Senior Lecturer in Law at the Dundee Law School, University of Dundee, UK, a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and the founding Director of the Centre for Climate Change and Sustainable Development (3CSD). Oluwatoyin is currently the Co-Chair of the Climate Mobility Africa Research Network (CMARN), a multidisciplinary, bi-lingual (EN+FR) network of researchers and policy makers working on displacement and migration in the context of disasters and climate change in Africa. Oluwatoyin recently presented a paper at the Harvard Law School’s Climate Justice Series 2024, where she presented a paper titled ‘Climate Change as an Amplifier of Social Disparities – The Role of Adaptation, Mitigation, and Loss and Damage Fund in Africa.’
About the FAU CHREN Human Rights Colloquium
The series provides a space for scholarly exchange on current human rights issues. Colloquia are organised on a rolling basis and are co-convened by Dr Janina Heaphy and Professor Eva Pils. This session was chaired by Dr. Janina Heaphy.
Enquiries should be directed to the co-conveners or to humanrights@fau.de.