Earth in Flux: Navigating Science, Economic and Governance Issues for Energy Transition in the Developing World

This book volume presents a comprehensive exploration of the complex challenges and opportunities associated with the global shift towards renewable energy, with a focused emphasis on developing nations. Through twenty-one rigorously peer-reviewed chapters contributed by various scholars and practitioners, this edited volume adopts a multidisciplinary approach, weaving together insights from geoscience, environmental science, economics, engineering, social sciences, and governance to offer a holistic view of energy transition in the developing world. It examines cutting-edge developments in energy transition discourse, including the transformative role of artificial intelligence in advancing renewable energy systems across Africa and other developing regions, whilst contributors explore innovative waste-to-energy technologies as solutions to the dual challenges of waste management and energy generation, particularly relevant for Sub-Saharan Africa facing rapidly increasing waste generation rates. Beyond technological considerations, the volume investigates the critical nexus between energy transition and agricultural sustainability, exploring climate-smart agriculture, agrogeological approaches to bioenergy production, and pathways for achieving food and energy security simultaneously in resource-constrained environments. Central to these crucial discussions, governance, institutional quality, and policy frameworks are identified as critical determinants of energy transition success, with contributors examining renewable energy governance challenges and revealing how bureaucratic ineffectiveness, policy inconsistencies, and regulatory uncertainty hinder mainstream adoption of renewable energy technologies despite abundant natural resources. Further, complementing these governance analyses, economic dimensions received substantial attention through chapters investigating the impact of energy transition on quality-of-life improvements, entrepreneurship development, industrial sector performance, and the financing innovations necessary to bridge investment gaps facing developing economies. In addition, environmental sustainability and climate resilience constitute central themes, with chapters exploring climate-induced vulnerabilities of energy systems, biodiversity implications of energy transitions, and best practices for balancing ecological preservation with energy development in environmentally sensitive regions, whilst also addressing sustainable mining practices for critical minerals essential to clean energy technologies. Targeted at academics, researchers, policymakers, development practitioners, industry professionals, and students, the book serves as an invaluable resource for understanding energy transition intricacies in the developing world. It emphasises the crucial roles of governance effectiveness, institutional quality, social equity, economic progress, and environmental sustainability in achieving just and inclusive energy futures.