Institute for Social and Health Sciences (ISHS)

Call for Papers Social and Health Sciences (SaHS) Journal Special Issue: Inclusive Energy Transitions for the South

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Energy impoverishment is a global phenomenon. However, it is more pronounced in the Global South with millions of people lacking adequate, safe energy services required for their daily, domestic energy needs. Most households in the South depend on grid-supplied electricity, with the supply of such energy much lower than its demand. This mismatch inadvertently forces energy-poor households to resort to unsafe fuels, such as coal and paraffin, with concomitant health and safety risks. The urgency of safe energy transitions in the South cannot be denied as increased access to safe and sustainable energy is central to much-needed, long-term economic growth and social development.

While there has been argument for the intensification of the electricity supply from national grids as the solution for energy deprivations in the Global South, not much success has been recorded in this regard. In reality, there is a decreasing capacity among countries in the South to generate electricity which is exacerbated by a growing population. However, there are safer and renewable alternatives to coal and paraffin, such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), methanol, biodigesters, and solar home systems, amongst others. These may be upscaled to reduce the dependence on unsafe fuels, but may also face policy, institutional, and socio-economic barriers.

Social and Health Sciences (SaHS) is calling for submissions of theoretical, empirical, applied and/or policy research on energy security and justice, and safe energy transitions for Global South countries.

Topics could include, but are not limited to:

  • The imperative and challenges of energy justice in the Global South
  • Poverty, inequality, and safe energy transitions
  • Energy impoverishment, health and safety outcomes
  • Safe energy, technology and policy environments in the Global South
  • Energy and climate change
  • Energy and sustainable environments
  • Energy security, governance and safe energy transitions
  • Roles of local government, civic mobilization and business interests in equitable energy transitions

Guidelines for submissions

SaHS is a multidisciplinary forum for critical discussion and debate among scholars, practitioners, activists, students, and policymakers whose interests and work intersect with the social and health sciences. While based in Africa, SaHS invites submissions from the broader Global South, as well as the Global North. All articles in the journal are subject to independent and blind peer review. Original theoretical, empirical, applied and policy submissions (6 000 words in length excluding the title, abstract, references, figures and tables), and short communications or perspectives (2 500 words, excluding references) are invited.

Please direct queries to the Guest Editors of this special issue, Dr Abiodun Oladejo, Dr David Kimemia and Professor Ashley van Niekerk (oladeao@unisa.ac.za). The deadline for the submission of abstracts and full papers are 20 January 2022 and 31 March 2022 respectively.

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Publish date: 2021-11-29 00:00:00.0

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