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Just transition.
We hear this term bandied about a lot these days in connection with climate change. But what is it anyway, and what does it mean in practical terms for communities, policy makers, big industry, and the media, among others?
What must be in place for the just transition to happen to the benefit of everyone?
South Africa’s just transition is framed through legislation in the form of the 2024 Climate Change Act, which defines the just transition’s core goals as social inclusion, decent work, and poverty eradication. However, practical challenges remain in the meaningful participation of all affected parties, and transparency in financing.
Experts taking us through this topic in the episode include legal researcher Mashudu Masutha; Transparency International climate researcher Gvantsa Gverdtsiteli; journalist and climate science writer Leonie Joubert; Joanne Yawitch, head of the Presidency’s Project Management Unit; Thabo Molelekwa, assistant editor at Oxpeckers; Tim Lloyd, associate at Alt-Advisory; Bongani Johannes from Mining Affected Communities United in Action; and Open Secrets investigators Michael Marchant and Zen Mathe, authors of the research report Who Has the Power: South Africa’s Energy Profiteers.
The transition process cannot be called ‘just’ if people are not consulted and are not even aware of the concept in the first place, says Johannes. “People are not informed even on what is climate justice … They are just hearing on the news to say there is this just transition. Communities are not even aware that coal is on the plans of being taken away as part of energy supplies.”
“Africa is one of the fastest urbanising continents on the globe,” says Joubert. “But we forget that we can’t neglect rural areas, because what happens in rural areas, in terms of ecosystem services and how we manage ecosystems to give regional and global resilience, matters.”
The episode highlights the importance of including communities and the integration of social, economic, and environmental goals to avoid exclusion. It also talks about the corruption in energy and mining sectors, which threatens project integrity and community trust, while opaque funding complicates accountability.
The just transition must address wider developmental issues, say the experts, incorporating diverse community voices to ensure that all stakeholders, especially marginalised groups, are actively involved in decision-making processes. Socioeconomic inequalities must be addressed, and policies must focus on equitable distribution of resources and opportunities to prevent further marginalisation of vulnerable populations. At the same time, environmental sustainability initiatives must align with local economic needs, fostering green job creation that benefits both urban and rural communities to promote inclusive growth.
Listen to episode 2 below, or download it by right-clicking or long-pressing on the audio player:
