Lemanski, CharlotteFatti, Christina CulwickAnciano, Fiona2026-05-062026-05-062026Lemanski, C., Fatti, C.C. and Anciano, F., 2026. Climate Justice or Climate Apartheid? The justice trade-offs of private solar investments for South Africa's just transition. Political Geography, 126, p.103512.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polgeo.2026.103512https://hdl.handle.net/10566/22338Climate Apartheid? Assessing Uneven Impacts of Private Renewable Energy in South Africa Context Climate change impacts are uneven, & poor most affected. Mitigation & adaptation also frequently deliver unjust outcomes. ‘Climate apartheid’: protects privileged from climate change but deepens inequality. Methods & Findings South Africa’s private renewable energy uptake has been rapid. Using interviews & surveys, we analyse wealthier household solar PV investments. State subsidises renewable energy, benefitting the wealthy. Grid secessions cost municipal revenue, undermining state-subsidised energy for the poor. Complex dynamic with justice trade-offs South Africa’s private & state-subsidised renewable energy arguably exemplifies climate apartheid. But it also contributes to global environmental justice. ‘Climate apartheid’ label vilifies wealthy & overlooks their role in advancing more just transition.enClimate justiceClimate apartheidRenewable energy inequalityPrivate solar investmentSolar powerArticle