Climate Ethics in Africa: Structuring a Standard for Trade and Development in Africa

The book is a groundbreaking collaborative effort authored by a diverse team of academic scholars and experts. Contributors hail from various corners of Africa and one esteemed scholar from Asia. This dynamic collaboration brings together a wealth of perspectives, enriching the discourse on the ethical dimensions of climate-conscious trade and sustainable development in Africa. Comprising thirteen thought-provoking chapters, this comprehensive work explores the intricate relationship between climate ethics, trade policies, and development strategies on the African continent. The authors delve into the complexities of ethical considerations within Africa's trade landscape, providing a nuanced analysis of how these considerations can shape the trajectory of sustainable development. The book not only navigates the uncertainties highlighted in the UN-commissioned Millennium Ecosystem Assessment but also takes on the crucial task of examining the interactions between indigenous knowledge systems and climate change adaptation. The resulting insights are dynamic, location-specific, and responsive to diverse drivers, offering a holistic understanding of the ethical challenges and opportunities that characterize the African trade and development landscape. An outstanding feature of this collaborative effort is the inclusive approach to the subject matter. The co-authors draw from their diverse expertise, weaving together insights from environmental ethics, political science, and development studies. This interdisciplinary approach ensures a well-rounded exploration of the moral imperatives guiding sustainable trade practices, making the book accessible to scholars and practitioners in the field.  The exploration of African metaphysics and ethics within the context of climate change adds a unique and culturally rich dimension to the book. By synthesizing indigenous knowledge with contemporary ethical theories, the authors provide a bridge between tradition and modernity, offering a foundation for structuring ethical standards that resonate with the African experience. The book is a beacon of optimism and a roadmap for a more ethically grounded approach to  African trade and development. With its insightful analyses, innovative proposals, and diverse authorship, this book is poised to become an essential resource for academics, policymakers, and anyone interested in the ethical dimensions of climate-conscious trade in Africa.  

Dennis Oghenerobor Agelebe was an Associate Professor of Law at Jindal Global University, India, currently a Post Doctoral Fellow at the Open Africa Innovation Research Network in the Center for Law, Technology and Society at the University of Ottawa, Canada, a Senior Research Fellow at the Environmental Law Centre of the University of Cologne and a member of the Legal Advisory Board of the Centre in Germany. He is also an Associate Member of the prestigious think-tank research centre, the Global South Studies Centre of the University of Cologne. 

He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) from the University of Calabar, Nigeria, and an LLM in International Human Rights Law and Environmental Protection from Charles University, Prague, the Czech Republic. He also earned a Doctorate in Law, specialising in Environment and Trade Law, from the University of Cologne. Besides the Czech Republic and Germany, he has research experience in New Zealand as a University of Canterbury Scholar and in India as a DAAD visiting scholar. Before going into academia, after his call to the Nigerian Bar as barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he practised as a lawyer at different times in Abuja, Nigeria. In 2020, he led the UNDP/GEF-funded project for de-risking renewable energy investment in interconnected mini-grids in Nigeria while working as a Senior Fellow with SD Strategies in Berlin. 

Expert in African law, he convened the first African Environmental Law Conference in the Environmental Law Centre at the University of Cologne and the lecture series on Climate Ethics in Africa. He is a recipient of several research scholar awards, including the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Scholars Award. He is also an editor for the International Journal for Health, Education, and Environment and has published academic research papers in several international journals. His research interests include emerging technology, sustainable development, renewable energy investment, environmentally friendly trade practices, and foreign direct investment with environmental ethics in developing countries.