PCC calls for a solid social compact for South Africa's Climate Change Just Transition

The interests and the voices of South Africans from all levels of society will be the centre of the country’s just transition. This commitment was made by Mr Valli Moosa, Deputy Chairperson of the Presidential Climate Commission, which was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa late 2020 as a multistakeholder stakeholder platform to coordinate and advise on the country’s climate change response.

Addressing the hybrid sitting of the 26th Annual NEDLAC Summit, held today – the Deputy Chairperson said that the country needs a comprehensive response to climate change and its associated social and economic impacts, aligned with the country’s development path and priorities.

“The crucial strategic question facing us, is the pace at which we decarbonise our economy. The climate transition must work for everyone who is affected by it. We must take steps to ensure that everyone is supported to transition to new employment or livelihoods and provided with the necessary social support mechanisms to do so. In short, the climate transition must be a just transition” – said Mr Moosa

The Deputy Chairperson announced that the PCC will be hosting wider consultations and engagements in communities across the country on what issues should be addressed in the climate transition.

“The PCC plans to meet directly with those affected like coal miners who have already lost jobs, workers in coal-fired power stations who stand to lose jobs through decommissioning as well as those who live in the surrounding communities and are dependent on that mining activity to support their livelihoods. The PCC will also seek input from rural communities affected by catastrophic climate change building up to a multi-stakeholder conference on the just transition in March 2022 for a final report to the social partners by mid-2022” said Moosa

The address came at the back of the of the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held recently in Glasgow where amongst others a R131 billion Just Energy and Climate Transition Fund was announced by the various nations notably the US, EU, France, UK, and Germany, with Mr. Moosa further endorsing the potential climate finance partnership as announced.

“As the largest historical contributors to this problem, the developed countries must lead this process, but it involves all of us, and no country can avoid its climate obligations - I have been enormously gratified by the way in which business has grasped this challenge, with some of our largest emitters – Eskom, Sasol, Anglo American, Exxaro, Seriti and many others signing up to net-zero commitments by 2050 or earlier in some instances “said Moosa

“The climate finance deal announced at COP26 could accelerate decommissioning, build publicly owned renewable generation, upgrade the grid, and repurpose coal fired power stations to preserve jobs is in our national interests, and developed nations have a responsibility, indeed an obligation, to pay for it. We should all be rallying around the Just Energy Transaction and making sure it happens”- said Moosa.

Moosa also applauded the manner in which some of South Africa’s largest greenhouse gas emitters were embracing the notion of the transition to a net-zero economy.

“I have been enormously gratified by the way in which business has grasped this challenge, with some of our largest emitters – Eskom, Sasol, Anglo, Exxaro, Seriti and many others signing up to net-zero commitments by 2050 or earlier in some instances “said Moosa

Concluding his address to the summit, Mr Valli Moosa further urged all partners to continue to support the work of the commission, which has come into operation at crucial time both locally and internationally, with everyone agreeing that climate change poses profound risks to society and the economy and that urgent action is required to minimise the impacts on society.

Ends

Editor’s Note

A full version of the Deputy Chairpersons speech is available on www.climatecommission.org.za a video of the NEDLAC Summit is available on www.nedlac.org.za

Issued by
Mr Rorisang Moseli
Media and Stakeholder Liaison Presidential Climate Commission rorisang@climatecommission.org.za