On 03 September 2024, the Director of ACSUS-UP, Prof. Christopher Isike, presented a thematic paper titled "The Complex Contestation in the Politics of Just Energy Transition" at the Australian Africa University Network (AAUN) Forum on Just Energy Transition. Curtin University, Western Australia, hosted the conference.

In his presentation, Prof Isike stressed the importance of correct framing of the politics of just energy to go beyond the notion of distributive and binary conflict between supporters and opponents of energy transition to see it as dialectical tensions between multiple interests and stakeholders. In this regard, he adds, “Africa should not simply be characterised as opposing energy transition but as countries having genuine economic and development concerns that need to be addressed while transiting to the post-fossil fuels era”.

The AAUN Forum Conference on Just Energy Transition hosted over 100 expert participants from academia, government, diplomats, business and agencies. The Forum considered AAUN strategic plans, research activities and progress 2025-30

The AAUN is a group of leading universities in Australia and Africa, connecting researchers and academics through institutional partnerships in order to address challenges facing both continents.