Inside Education Reporter
Equipping South Africans with skills, assets, and opportunities to participate in industries of the future is a critical imperative of the ‘Just Transition Framework’ that seeks to decarbonise the country’s energy mix, according to Minister of Higher Education, Science Innovation Dr Blade Nzimande.
A just energy transition (JET) to a low-carbon economy in South Africa is expected to lose about 300,000 jobs. Still, the creation of approximately 815,000 new jobs by 2050, said the Minister.
Speaking at the Tokyo GX Week Ministerial Plenary Session on Monday (25 September), Nzimande said in response to the need to decarbonise its energy mix, South Africa has established several national strategies to expand renewable energy and deviate from a fossil fuel-dominated economy.
Through the ‘Just Transition Framework’, the South African government will oversee and facilitate a Just Transition to a low-emissions and climate-resilient economy focusing on financing renewable energy and technological advancements.
Nzimande said equipping South Africans with skills, assets, and opportunities to participate in future industries, with particular attention on impacted groups, people experiencing poverty, women, people with disabilities and the youth, was a must.
He added that implementing transformative national economic and social policies that consider how benefits and burdens will be distributed (this includes clear indication of where jobs are gained, where jobs are lost, and the quality and longevity of future employment).
Increasing provincial and local capacity (both resources and skills) to promote local economic development and ensuring corporate responsibility to support a green and inclusive economy were also part of the priorities.
“The jobs expected to be lost will be in the high-emissions industries of coal and petroleum, but there is expected to be a net gain in mining-related employment as demand for energy minerals and metals rise, which will be needed to produce cleaner energy sources,” he said.
The carbon intensity of the South African economy remains high, which presents opportunities for decarbonisation.
Fossil fuels comprise approximately 92% of South Africa’s energy mix, with the majority consisting of coal, increasing the carbon intensity of locally made goods. For example, the carbon intensity of steel production amounted to 2,295.1 kgCO2/tonne product in 2016, exceeding the world average of 1,900 kgCO2/tonne.
Through the ‘Just Transition Framework’, the South African government will oversee and facilitate a Just Transition to a low-emissions and climate-resilient economy focusing on financing renewable energy and technological advancements.
“Therefore, we need to scale our collaboration, investment and innovation to transform our commitments into actionable interventions, ultimately contributing to establishing an equitable and just net zero carbon emission scenario by 2050.”
INSIDE EDUCATION
