South Africa is the 14th largest emitter of greenhouse gases due to its dependence on coal-generated electricity. There is significant international political and financial commitment to promoting a just transition from coal-fired energy to renewables in South Africa and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) agreements struck at UN climate conferences COP 26 and 27 reflect some of the most ambitious plans to emerge from the COP summits to date.
However, a transition from coal would constitute the most significant socioeconomic upheaval in recent South African history and the voice of those communities most impacted must be heard in order to ensure the transition is truly just.
With our partners in the Sam Tambani Research Institute (SATRI) connected to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), we explore how working class communities are responding to these challenges. We are conducting interviews with elected officials at all levels of the union as well as workshops and focus groups with union members to explore their expectations and demands for a ‘just’ transition.
The findings will directly inform NUM’s engagement with its membership and its work with the Presidential Climate Commission, shaping national policy in this most critical sector.
This project was funded by the ESRC Impact Acceleration Account 2023–2024.
Resources
- Watch the ‘Seeking just transitions’ project video on YouTube
- Listen to ‘Podcast: Just Transitions – a global exploration: South Africa
Contacts
Others involved
- Ruth Bookbinder