Expert Perspective Series on Achieving a Just Transition in South Africa

The Presidential Climate Commission is a multi-stakeholder body established by the President of the Republic of South Africa to advise on the country’s climate change response and pathways to a low-carbon climate-resilient economy and society. One of the first tasks of the Presidential Climate Commission is to develop a framework for a just transition. This framework will act as a practical guide for all affected stakeholders in South Africa, ensuring that the transition to a low-emissions economy is well-managed, just, and equitable, with particular focus on the poorest and most vulnerable. The framework will build on the existing just transition debates in the country, as well as the vision set out by the National Planning Commission. To supplement the extensive process of stakeholder consultation, the Presidential Climate Commission is currently building an evidence-base for the new just transition framework. This includes a review of the just transition landscape (domestic and international) and a series of policy briefs on key topics relevant to the transition (policy primers, coal value chain, employment, finance, water security and governance).

In addition to the research products mentioned above, the Presidential Climate Commission, in collaboration with The New Climate Economy (affiliated with World Resources Institute), is commissioning an “expert perspective series” — short essays (1,000 - 2,000 words) from senior experts and practitioners that respond to a set of key topics of relevance to a just transition, as input to the new just transition framework. Up to ten experts will be selected to give their perspective, drawing on lessons they have learned and opinions they have drawn from first-hand research and/or decision making in the field. The expert perspective series will focus, in particular, on adaptation and climate resilience issues.

The expert perspective series will focus on the enhanced adaptation/resilience capacities that will be necessary in South Africa over the next several decades—and how these adjustments can reduce harm and create new economic opportunities, including new and better jobs. The enhanced adaptation capacities include infrastructure and services (energy, water, transport, buildings, urban resilience), the management of environmental resources (water security, food security, biodiversity protection), and social/economic resilience to ensure no one is left beyond in the transition to a green economy (re-skilling, migration, etc.).

As part of their essays, experts will be asked to reflect on:

• the enhanced adaptation and coping capacities that will be needed in South Africa to address climate change, in their field of interest;
• the opportunities and challenges that come along with this enhanced capacity; and
• how appropriate policies can be shaped to build economic, environmental, and social
  resilience, including:
  • how to support and uplift vulnerable regions and communities;
  • how to distribute the burdens of adaptation fairly;
  • how to address gender-related aspects when enhancing adaptive capacity;
  • how to finance the cost of enhanced resilience measures, and how to craft incentives to invest in just transitions for adaptation;
  • how to create new and better jobs through resilience measures, particularly in areas where jobs may be vulnerable in the transition towards a carbon neutral economy;
  • how to engage vulnerable populations in inclusive and participatory planning
    processes.

Ultimately, this expert perspective series will aim to:

• present a deep understanding of what it takes to achieve a just transition in key areas of South African economy that are vulnerable to climate impacts;
• provide clear and practical options for supporting a just transition for adaptation, cognizant of the challenges, opportunities, and costs; and
• identify the polices that are best suited to respond, as well as those that may detract from progress.

Depending on author availability, each essay will likely be developed over an eight-week period (ideally in October – November 2021, although there is some flexibility into early 2022), per the timeline in the table below. The full essay will also be reviewed and approved by the Presidential Climate Commission, before being posted on the Commission’s website and publicized via social media/newsletters.

• Weeks 1-2: Author prepares outline for essay and shares with project team
• Weeks 1-4: Author prepares draft essay, 1,000 - 2,000 words in length
• Weeks 5-6: Project team reviews draft and provides feedback; phone call if needed
• Weeks 7: Author revises essay to address feedback and submits final draft
• Week 8: Essay is copyedited and posted on the Commission’s website

New Climate Economy is offering a stipend of USD 2,500 to each author per essay.

South African experts from the academic and science community are invited to submit a two-page outline for an essay, together with a CV, to Katie Ross (katie@climatecommission.org.za). The deadline for submissions is Friday 24th September 2021. Submissions will be reviewed and approved by the Presidential Climate Commission and New Climate Economy, and applicants notified of the outcome by Friday 1st October.