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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
Marleny Arnoldi, Engineering News. 3 November 2020: Financing instruments need to be overhauled for a successful just transition
Background
This dialogue aims to inform this just transition process. It explores a number of possible options to finance the just transition process in South Africa. It is the fifth iteration of a series. The recording of previous events can be accessed here: Unravelling South Africa's Just Transition.
About the Speakers
Emily Tyler is an Economist at Meridian Economics. She has focused her career on climate mitigation in a development context, bringing both an economics and complex systems perspective to policy and practical challenges. She will discuss the role of transition finance for climate change mitigation, with a focus on a just climate transition for South Africa.
Jesse Burton is a Senior Associate at climate change think-tank E3G and a Researcher at the University of Cape Town (UCT). She has extensive knowledge and expertise on energy issues, particularly the coal value chains and just transitions. She will present work on the volume and politics of fossil fuel subsidies in South Africa.
Mike Ward is the Director and Founder of Creating Sustainable Value (CSV). He has extensive experience in the sustainability sector, including as a Chartered Director (SA). He is currently supporting the World Bank’s work on just transitions. He will present a case study on Climate Investment Funds (CIF) and just transitions in South Africa.
About the Facilitator
Gaylor Montmasson-Clair is a Senior Economist at TIPS, where he leads work on Sustainable Growth. He has carried out 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.
This webinar builds on a four earlier dialogues, hosted on 7 July, 29 September, 3 November and 17 November.
- Date Tuesday, 01 December 2020
- Venue Webinar
Richard Halsey - Project90by2030
Presentation: Remaking our energy future
Report: Remaking Our Energy Future: Towards a Just Energy Transition (JET) in South Africa
Nthabiseng Mohlakoana - Centre for Complex Systems in Transition
Presentation: Unravelling South Africa's Just Transition: Unpacking the energy-level impacts
Dominic Brown - Economic Justice Programme, Alternative Information and Development Centre
Presentation: Why only the public can save us
Report: Eskom Transformed - Achieving a Just Energy Transition for South Africa
Angelo Coppola, AfricaLive on CGTN Africa. 19 November 2020. Interview with Gaylor Montmasson-Clair at 37.17: https://youtu.be/VRm0uJQ0Tug
Lameez Omarjee, Fin24. 18 November 2020: Eskom plans for coal-fired plant closures as it eyes zero emissions
Terence Creamer, Engineering News. 17 November 2020: Eskom moves to finalise just energy transition framework as shutdown of grootblei and hendrina draws near
Background
South Africa, a carbon-intensive economy, has initiated a transition to a more sustainable development pathway. While this is an economy-wide transformation, the transformation of the electricity supply industry (ESI) is at the centre of this shift. In a highly unequal society like South Africa, the need for a just transition, which would empower vulnerable stakeholders, has emerged as an imperative. This has implications for the workers, businesses and communities relying, for their livelihood, on the existing and/or transformed ESI. It also has critical implications in terms of access to energy from households and other customers.
This dialogue aims to inform this just transition process. It explores the ground-level impacts associated with a just transition away from coal. It builds on two previous dialogues hosted on 7 July, 29 September and 3 November.
About the Speakers
Mandy Rambharos is the Head of Eskom’s newly-established Just Energy Transition office. She was previously the utility’s Head of Climate Change and Sustainable Development and has been involved in sustainability issues for more than a decade. Mandy will present on the results from Eskom’s socio-economic impact studies and the utility’s work on developing a Just Energy Transition Roadmap.
Richard Halsey is a researcher at environmental non-governmental organisation Project90by2030. He co-ordinates the Electricity Governance South Africa network, a grouping of civil society organisations dedicated to promoting transparent, inclusive and accountable decision-making in the energy sector. Richard will present on Remaking Our Energy Future: Towards a Just Energy Transition in South Africa.
Nthabiseng Mohlakoana is a researcher and lecturer at the Centre for Complex Systems in Transition at the University of Stellenbosch. She has over 15 years of experience in research focusing on energy policy implementation, energy access and use as well as gender mainstreaming in the energy sector. Nthabiseng will present on the interplay between energy access issues and just transition in South Africa.
Dominic Brown is the Coordinator of the Economic Justice Programme at the Alternative Information and Development Centre, an activist think-tank supporting worker struggles and social movements for economic, social, and environmental justice. He focuses on political economy research and facilitates popular education and trainings with social movements and trade unions. Dominic will present on Eskom Transformed: Achieving a Just Energy Transition for South Africa.
About the Facilitator
Gaylor Montmasson-Clair is a Senior Economist at TIPS, where he leads work on Sustainable Growth. He has carried out 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.
This webinar builds on a three earlier dialogues, hosted on 7 July, 29 September and 3 November.
- Date Tuesday, 17 November 2020
- Venue Webinar