Climate change has become one of the biggest challenges of our times. Most countries are scrambling to meet this challenge by reducing greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions. Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is recognised as one of the most important ways of tackling the challenge of climate change. On the one hand, the global energy transition affects countries and regions differently. Africa faces distinct risks due to its economic structure, energy profile and geopolitical position. This book brings all these unique challenges to the fore. On the other hand, the transition also represents one of our time’s most significant economic opportunities, with its economy valued at trillions of dollars and growing rapidly. This book is premised on the notion that African countries can mitigate the risks and leverage the opportunities the transition provides to transform their economies. This chapter sets the scene for evaluating what the global energy transition means for the future of Africa.