South Africa’s National Strategy for a Fair Energy Shift: Who’s Falling Behind?

South Africa is leading the way in the global shift towards cleaner energy with its national strategy for a fair transition away from coal towards clean energy. However, a new analysis has revealed that most of the country’s provinces, including coal-dependent regions like Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Free State, have limited or no plans to support communities and local workers through this green transition.

The country signed a multi-billion-dollar Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) with rich countries in 2021, aiming to support an economy-wide transition away from coal while ensuring the well-being of communities and workers dependent on the fossil fuel industry. South Africa has made significant progress in creating a national just energy transition investment plan, enacting its Climate Change Act, and launching a funding platform to support workers in acquiring new skills or developing communities in innovative ways.

However, a recent report by Net Zero Tracker and South South North highlighted that eight provinces in South Africa are lagging behind in their local climate plans, despite their reliance on coal production and high unemployment rates. The Western Cape was the only province leading in climate action, with comprehensive net zero targets and just transition considerations integrated into regional policies.

Among the cities reviewed, only Cape Town and Johannesburg had robust just transition considerations, while the others had minimal or no focus on this aspect. The lack of structured plans in coal-reliant provinces poses a significant risk of job losses and community destabilization, especially for vulnerable groups like women and informal workers.

Local governments in South Africa are facing challenges in implementing effective climate policies due to governance, resource, and capacity issues. There is a need to bolster political will across government tiers and align local initiatives with national directives to improve climate responses. Investment in just transition measures at the local level is crucial to ensure the country’s decarbonization and adaptation goals are met.

The report also highlighted limited engagement with just transition commitments by global brands operating in South Africa, such as Apple, Amazon, and Google. These companies lack specific plans to support communities and vulnerable groups, overlooking their role in fostering equitable transitions within host countries.

In response to the report, Amazon stated that it is engaging in just transition work across South Africa through various projects, including community water replenishment and skills development programs. However, there is a call for better coordination to ensure that foreign firms align with South African climate policies and prioritize just transition principles in their operations.

Overall, the analysis underscores the importance of inclusive and equitable green transitions in South Africa to ensure that no communities or workers are left behind in the shift towards cleaner energy sources.