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Media
South Africa's just transition must accomodate myriad of considerations (Tasneem Bulbia, Engineering News, 3 June 2021)
Going coal turkey: SA's dilemma as it aims to develop greener economy (Lameez Omarjee, Fin24, 7 June 2021)
Press release
Tangible plans for economic diversification critical to a just transition in Mpumalanga
Media
Going coal turkey: SA's dilemma as it aims to develop greener economy (Lameez Omarjee, Fin24, 7 June 2021
South Africa’s just transition must accommodate myriad of considerations (Tasneem Bulbulai, Engineering News, 3 June 2021)
BackgroundSouth Africa has initiated a transition to a more sustainable development pathway, which involves moving towards a low-carbon economy. The country is a highly unequal society with many poor and vulnerable people. The need for a just transition has emerged as an imperative, whereby the poor and vulnerable should not be negatively impacted by the transition and should ideally be better off through it. In Mpumalanga, these challenges are exacerbated by the health, air and water pollution that has caused untold death and destruction to people and the environment.
Yet the voice of the people living in affected communities is often not heard, particularly at the national level. This Development Dialogue webinar aims to provide a platform to hear from, and engage with, people from Steve Tshwete and Emalahleni. It aims to unpack the key concerns, aspirations, visions and needs for people in Mpumalanga, focusing on what is required to shift the status quo and make a positive change in the region in terms of employment, poverty, energy, health, and the environment. It forms part of a larger project, funded by UK PACT, that intends to facilitate the co-development of a coherent just transition plan for affected communities in Mpumalanga, with a particular focus on Emalahleni and Steve Tshwete.
Programme
Welcome and introduction, facilitated by Peta Wolpe
Brief overview of the UK PACT project
About the Speakers
Jay Naidoo is a South African public figure and social activist. He is a board member of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, promoting governance and leadership in Africa. Previously, he was a Minister in President Nelson Mandela's Cabinet and the Founding General Secretary of Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU).
Promise Mabilo is the co-ordinator of Vukani Environmental Justice Movement in Action (VEJMA), a community-based organisation in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga. The organisation was established in 2016 with the vision of promoting awareness of and advocating for environmental justice within the Mpumalanga Highveld and the country. Mabilo is an environmental justice activist and an alumni of the groundWork environmental justice school.
Lucky Moni is an Energy Researcher and National Educator at the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers' Union (CEPPWAWU), based in Mpumalanga.
Nonkululeko Makua is the Climate Change Champion of the Emalahleni Municipality. She is also the Manager for Parks, Cemeteries and Public Open Spaces, in the Environmental and Waste Management Directorate of the municipalities.
Alex Khumalo is the Head: Social Performance at Minerals Council South Africa. He has long-standing experience and expertise in socio-economic development, transformation strategies, community engagement and community empowerment, notably as the Owner and Chief Impact Officer of Lean Logic Solutions, and the Community Engagement Officer at Anglo American Platinum.
About the Facilitator
Peta Wolpe is an Energy and Climate Change Practitioner. She has extensive experience of working in urban energy and climate change, focusing on energy poverty and local level governance and policy. She was the Managing Director of Sustainable Energy Africa (SEA) for over 12 years. She is also an Associate Director of SouthSouthNorth.
- Date Thursday, 03 June 2021
- Venue Webinar
- Organisation TIPS and the National Labour and Economic Institute (NALEDI), supported by groundWork
Presentations
Neva Makgetla - Senior Economist, TIPS
Presentation: The pandemic and the economy in southern Africa
Klaus Schade - Independent Economic Analyst in Namibia
Presentation: The economic impact of Covid-19 on SADC: The Namibian experience
Gibson Chigumira - Executive Director, Zimbabwe Economic Policy Analysis and Research Unit (ZEPARU)
Presentation: Synopsis of COVID-19 situation and policy responses in Zimbabwe
Itumeleng Mokoena - Intern, TIPS
Presentation: The COVID-19 pandemic and the economy in Southern Africa: Botswana's response
Additional Research
The COVID-19 pandemic and the economy in Southern Africa
Media
Tourism bears brung of Covid-19 pandemic across SADC - researchers (Lameez Omarjee, Fin 24, 21 May 2021)
Southern African countries' Covid-19 economic recovery rapid – TIPS (Donna Slater, Engineering News, 19 May 2021)
Press release
COVID-19 leaves SADC poor worse off
This Development Dialogue takes place in the context of the SA-TIED programme. It provides an overview of the economic impact on SADC, and then unpack the specific issues impacting on Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
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14:00 Opening and welcome by chairperson: Themba Khumalo 14:05 – 15:05 Presentations: · Neva Makgetla: Overview of the economic impact on SADC · Klaus Schade: Namibian experience · Gibson Chigumira: Zimbabwean experience · Itumeleng Mokoena: Botswanan experience 15:05 – 15:30 Discussion |
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Background As in the rest of the world, the COVID-19 pandemic had a severe economic fall-out in Southern Africa, which endured an economic depression in 2020. The economic outcomes varied significantly over the course of the year, however. A sharp downturn linked to regional and international lockdowns in the second quarter was followed by a rebound in the remainder of the year. For 2020 as a whole, the regional GDP was around 6% below 2019. The available evidence indicates that the pandemic depression aggravated inequalities in Southern Africa, which were already among the worst in the world. Less-skilled workers saw a disproportionate loss of livelihoods; small businesses were also more likely to close down than larger ones; and government cuts to services in response to falling revenues had the sharpest impact on low-income households and communities. |
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About the Speakers Themba Khumalo is the Director of Africa Integration and Industrial Development at South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. Neva Makgetla is a senior economist at TIPS. Makgetla has published widely on the South African economy and worked for many years in government. Klaus Schade is an independent economic analyst in Namibia. Gibson Chigumira is the Executive Director of the Zimbabwe Economic Policy Analysis & Research Unit (ZEPARU). Itumeleng Mokoena is an intern at TIPS. |
- Date Wednesday, 19 May 2021
- Venue Online
- Main Speakers Neva Makgetla (TIPS), Klaus Schade (Economic analyst), Gibson Chigumira (ZEPARU), Itumeleng Mokoena (TIPS)
- For enquiries or to register please contact natasha@tips.org.za
Presentations
Nkosinathi Nkonyane - Senior Manager, Economic Policy and Planning, Department of Economic Development and Tourism (Mpumalanga Province)
Presentation: Implementing the Mpumalanga green economy plan
Louise Scholtz - Senior Programme Manager: Urban Futures, Policy and Futures Unit, WWF-SA; Carla Hudson, Programme Manager: Mine Water Coordinating Body, and Operational Lead – Mpumalanga, Impact Catalyst
Presentation: Mine rehabilitation as a platform for socio-economic development in Mpumalanga
Stanley Semelane - Senior Researcher in Climate Services, CSIR
Presentation: Just Transition and sectoral solutions
Gillian Chigumira - Economist, TIPS
Presentation: A Just Transition in Mpumalanga away from coal - Unlocking jobs in the agricultural sector
Belinda Heichler - President, South African Coal Ash Association; and General Manager, Kwikbulk
Kelley Reynolds-Clausen Vice-President, South African Coal Ash Association; and Eskom
Emerging opportunities for using coal ash
Media
Lameez Omarjee, Fin24, 29 March 2021: Can farming revive Mpumalanga's economy when coal power stations close? Read as a PDF.
FIN24, ESI Africa, 26 March 2021: No silver bullet but many ways to renew Mpumalanga’s economy
Terence Creamer, Mining News, 25 March 2021: Agriculture seen as key just transition enabler in Mpumalanga, but arable land needs urgent safeguarding
Additional research (Water Research Commission)
Practising Adaptive IWRM (Integrated Water Resources Management) in South Africa (July 2018)
Appendix A: Regulation throughout the coal mining life cycle
Appendix D: How to engage with coal mines through a Catchment Management Forum
Appendix E: Record of Upper Komati Catchment Management Forum (UKCMF) dialogues
Appendix F: Ecological infrastructure, mining licensing and contestation
Background
South Africa has initiated a transition to a more sustainable development pathway. This notably involves moving towards a low-carbon economy. In a highly unequal society like South Africa, the need for a just transition, which would empower vulnerable stakeholders, has emerged as an imperative. Vulnerable stakeholders (such as workers, small businesses and low-income communities) should not be negatively impacted by the transition and should ideally be better off through it.Just transition discussions in South African (and globally) have been primarily focused on the coal value chain, particularly coal-fired power generation and associated coal mining. In South Africa, the bulk of coal-related operations are concentrated in the Mpumalanga province, especially in eMalahleni (formerly Witbank) and Steve Tshwete.
International experience suggests that fostering a just transition requires long-term, ambitious interventions at multiple levels. South Africa's mix of measures remains in development and a high source of debate. This dialogue aims to inform this just transition process. After a presentation of the province's green economy plan, it explores a number of possible sectoral options to diversity and rejuvenate Mpumalanga's economy and foster a just transition process in South Africa, namely the potential to:
- Generate renewable energy-based electricity and manufacture renewable energy technologies;
- Foster the development of agricultural value chains;
- Use mine rehabilitation as a platform for socio-economic development; and
- Harness coal ash, a waste product of coal-fired power generation, to develop new economic activities.
Louise Scholtz will unpack the role of mine rehabilitation in Mpumalanga's just transition. Louise is Senior Programme Manager: Urban Futures Policy and Futures Unit at the World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA). She is responsible for a basket of projects focusing on unlocking climate action at city level. She also manages a just transition workstream, which includes work on the potential of mine rehabilitation to support environmentally sound and equitable outcomes for communities.
Stanley Semelane will present on the potential to develop renewable energy (for electricity production and manufacturing) in Mpumalanga. Stanley is a Senior Researcher in Climate Services at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research's (CSIR) Holistic Climate Change Impact Area, where he is responsible for supporting climate change finance as well as the mitigation and adaptation measures for a just transition in South Africa.
Gillian Chigumira will discuss opportunities associated with the development of agricultural value chains in Mpumalanga. Gillian is an Economist at TIPS. Her interests lie in industrialisation, agro-processing, urban regeneration, inclusive growth, conflict resolution and diplomatic negotiations in Africa. She has done extensive work on the development of agricultural value chains in South Africa and the Southern African region.
Belinda Heichler will present on the potential of using coal ash to support a just transition in Mpumalanga. Belinda is the General Manager of Kwikbulk, a company of Kwikbuild General Purpose Cement, and the President of the South African Coal Ash Association (SACAA).
About the Facilitator
Gaylor Montmasson-Clair is a Senior Economist at TIPS, where he leads work on Sustainable Growth. He has carried extensive research on the transition to an inclusive green economy from a developing country perspective, with a focus on policy frameworks, industrial development, just transition and resource security. He was one of the lead authors of South Africa's National Employment Vulnerability Assessment (NEVA) and associated Sector Jobs Resilience Plans (SJRPs).
- Date Wednesday, 24 March 2021
- Venue Webinar
Presentations
Gaylor Montmasson-Clair - Senior Economist, TIPS
Presentation: Policy toolbox for a Just Transition
Mike Mulcahy - CEO, GreenCape
Presentation: Green Economy Cluster - The value of clustering in the South Africa economy
Janivi Da Silva - Director of Programmes, GreenMatter
Presentation: A composite approach for skills development towards a Just Transition for South Africa
Tashmia Ismail-Saville - CEO, Youth Employment Service (YES)
Presentation: Just Transition
Media
Press release: Building blocks for a just transition in place
Marleny Arnoldi, Engineering News, 18 February 2021: TIPS encourages South Africa to leverage just transition imperatives already in place
Background
South Africa has initiated a transition to a more sustainable development pathway. This notably involves moving towards a low-carbon economy. In a highly unequal society like South Africa, the need for a just transition, which would empower vulnerable stakeholders, has emerged as an imperative. Vulnerable stakeholders (such as workers, small businesses and low-income communities) should not be negatively impacted by the transition and should ideally be better off through it.
International experience suggests that fostering a just transition requires long-term, ambitious interventions at multiple levels. South Africa's mix of measures remains in development and a high source of debate. This dialogue aims to inform this just transition process. It explores a number of possible cross-cutting options to foster a just transition process in South Africa, namely:
- The policy toolbox
- The cluster model
- Skills development initiatives
- Youth employment programmes
About the Speakers
Gaylor Montmasson-Clair will present on the policy toolbox for a just transition. Gaylor is a Senior Economist at TIPS, where he leads work on Sustainable Growth. He has carried extensive research on the transition to an inclusive green economy from a developing country perspective, with a focus on policy frameworks, industrial development, just transition and resource security. He was one of the lead authors of South Africa's National Employment Vulnerability Assessment (NEVA) and associated Sector Jobs Resilience Plans (SJRPs).
Mike Mulcahy will discuss the role of the cluster approach as a vehicle to foster a just transition. Mike is the CEO of GreenCape, a green economy sector development agency. GreenCape's work has focussed on understanding and then removing barriers to commercially-viable projects across energy, water and waste. GreenCape sits at the nexus of industry, government and academia, allowing a unique perspective on pragmatic solutions to transition to a green economy.
Janavi Da Silva will unpack the role of skills development in a just transition context. Janavi is the Director of Programmes at GreenMatter, which works towards unlocking the environmental, social and economic potential of South Africa through the development of suitably skilled biodiversity specialists, researchers and professionals. She has a deep experience in working for social and environmental enterprise and skills development.
Tashmia Ismail-Saville will present on the importance of youth employment programmes to achieve a just transition. Tashmia is the CEO of the Youth Employment Service (YES), a joint initiative between business, labour and government, which addresses South Africa's youth unemployment challenge. Together with a dedicated team, she works towards creating thousands of work experiences in South Africa. She has expertise in setting up organisations and has made contributions locally and internationally in the areas of innovation, inclusive business, digitisation of knowledge and business development, economic and behavioural research.
About the Facilitator
Muhammed Patel is an Economist at TIPS. He has experience in the coal and petrochemical value chains. He is the lead author of the National Employment Vulnerability Assessment (NEVA) and Sector Jobs Resilience Plan (SJRP) for the coal value chain in South Africa.
- Date Tuesday, 16 February 2021
- Venue Webinar
Agenda
Welcome and introduction:
- Baba-Tamana Gqubule, TIPS
- Jenitha Badul, Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF)
- Ozunimi Iti, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)
Discussion, facilitated by Baba-Tamana Gqubule (TIPS)
About the Speakers
Lerato Monaisa is an Economist at TIPS. Prior to her role at TIPS, she worked at the National Treasury in Local Government Policy and Planning. Lerato holds a Bachelor of Economics with Honours from Rhodes University and a Masters in Industrial Policy from the University of Johannesburg.
- Date Tuesday, 02 February 2021
- Venue Online
- Main Speakers Muhammed Patel (TIPS) and Lerato Monaisa (TIPS)
- Organisation Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) and United Nations Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE)
Presentations
Nick Robins, Professor in Practice – Sustainable Finance, Grantham Research Institute, London School of Economics: Just Transition Welcome and Introduction
Media
ESI Africa 20 January 2021: How to finance the just energy transition in South Africa and India
Engineering News 19 January 2021 Terrence Creamer: Project launched to define role of finance in South Africa and India's 'just transitions'
Ensuring the transition to net zero and resilient economies is just and inclusive has never been more important as climate action builds momentum and the urgent need for a green and just recovery from COVID-19 arises.
South Africa and India, two of the largest coal-dependent emerging economies, are beginning to explore how to ensure no one is left behind in the transition, particularly in coal-dependent regions, and the most vulnerable can access emerging opportunities including new quality jobs in net zero sectors.
It is clear that financial institutions have a critical role to play in helping achieve a just transition in both countries - more practical guidance is now needed to signal where financing is needed and how it can be enabled by specific policy, market and regulatory mechanisms.
The Just Transition Finance Roadmaps in South Africa and India project will build on existing local processes and encourage tangible action, particularly on the road to COP26. The following partners are involved: Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies, National Business Initiative, Observer Research Foundation, LSE Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, and Harvard Kennedy School’s Initiative for Responsible Investment, with support from the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy.
This project has been catalysed with funding from CDC Group.
Agenda
14.30-14.40 Welcome and Project Launch: Nick Robins, Professor in Practice – Sustainable Finance, Grantham Research Institute, London School of Economics
14.40-14.50 Fireside chat: Nick O’Donohoe, Chief Executive Officer, CDC Group in conversation with Nick Robins
14.50-14.55 Opening remarks: What is the role of finance in enabling a just transition in South Africa? Joanne Yawitch, Chief Executive Officer, National Business Initiative
14.55-15.00 Opening remarks: What is the role of finance in enabling a just transition in India? Rathin Roy, Managing Director - Research and Policy, Overseas Development Institute
15.00-15.35 Panel discussion
Moderator: David Wood, Director of the Initiative for Responsible Investment , Harvard Kennedy School
• Amal-Lee Amin, Climate Change Director, CDC Group
• Rudi Dicks, Board member, Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies
• Royston Braganza, Chief Executive Officer, Grameen Capital India
15.35-15.55 Q&A session
15.55-16.00 Closing remarks: Suranjali Tandon, Assistant Professor, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy