MEDIA STATEMENT CLIMATE COMMISSION WELCOMES GOVERNMENT’S JUST ENERGY TRANSITION INVESTMENT PLAN

CLIMATE COMMISSION WELCOMES GOVERNMENT’S JUST ENERGY TRANSITION INVESTMENT PLAN AND PLEDGES TO MOBILIZE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

The Presidential Climate Commission, welcomes and congratulates government on the conclusion of the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET_IP) as unveiled by President Cyril Ramaphosa to the country at a special virtual meeting of the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) held on Friday, 4 November 2022.

The JET-IP outlines government’s comprehensive priority investment and financing interventions required to achieve the decarbonisation commitments made by the Government of South Africa

“We commend the Inter- Ministerial Committee (IMC), Presidential Finance Task Team, the entirety of government and its agencies for their relentless efforts in concluding the plan and further tabling it for public scrutiny and consultation” –

“The plan presents tremendous opportunity for our nation’s transition to a low emissions economy and climate resilient society, and should play a bridging role to manage the immediate social, economic, and fiscal consequences of actions to address climate change –it puts in place South Africa on the right path and pace in implementing measures that support climate justice and equity “ said Valli Moosa, Deputy Chair of the Presidential Climate Commission.

The PCC will consider and make further recommendations to government, to ensure that the plan brings in system wide coherence and coordination to just transition finance and investment in South Africa.

“We call upon extensive and continuous engagement and consultation in building on the plan, for it to succeed it must be enhanced and advocated for in a just and inclusive manner needed to address our most urgent challenges related to people and climate change” – said Moosa

The Deputy Chairperson also welcomed new members to the Presidential Climate Commission as appointed and announced by President Ramaphosa. The new additional commissioners are:

• Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana Secretary general of the SA Council of Churches,
• Dr Shafik Adams, of the Water Research Commission.
• Mr Lungisa Fuzile, Chief Executive of Standard Bank SA,
• Ms Zama Khanyile, from the National Empowerment Fund, and
• Mr Nicholaas Janse van Rensburg Rabie of Agri SA.

The PCC further called upon President Ramaphosa who will lead the South Africa delegation to the 27^th Conference of Parties (COP27) of United Nations Framework Convention Climate Change (UNFCCC) to demand increased support and commitments for grant funding into the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) announced at COP26, in November 2021.

“COP27 must be a watershed moment for African countries and other developing countries in securing the necessary support—for climate finance, for technology transfer and for capacity building” said Moosa

The investment plan and presentation can be accessed on www.presidency.gov.za

Media enquiries: Mr Blessing Manale: Head, Communications and Outreach
Cell: 073 036 5381 Email blessing@cliamtecommission.org.za

ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENTIAL CLIMATE COMMISSION