PROJECT TO DEVELOP A CONTRIBUTION TO A JUST TRANSITION FINANCE ROADMAP
In 2021 TIPS embarked on a 12-month research project to contribute to a first iteration of a Just Transition Finance Roadmap. The project has approached just transition finance as a separate use of climate funds, with different challenges, metric and ambitions. Unlike mainstream just transition roadmap thinking, it adopts an action-based research approach, looking at place-based investment needs at a project level. The research aims to provide evidence of the characteristics of just transition projects in South Africa and hence their financing needs. A gap analysis is being undertaken to understand what will be required to systemically support just transition activities. The bottom-up approach aims to culminate in articulating the characteristics of a future financial ecosystem, which systemically supports mobilising appropriate, sustainable just transition finance aligned to government climate and social development policy. The roadmap suggests a short-term action agenda to begin such a journey.
TIPS received funding from the EU and GIZ through the SPIPA initiative, UK PACT, and the CDC Group to research and draft an initial Just Transition Finance Roadmap for South Africa. SPIPA is the Strategic Partnerships for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement. The CDC group is the UK government’s Development Finance Institution and is becoming British International Investment. UK PACT is the UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions and is a donor funded programme of the UK Government.
RESEARCH AND REPORTS
A Just Transition finance roadmap for South Africa: A first iteration - Sandty Lowitt (TIPS)
A just transition finance roadmap aims to articulate a new end vision for the financial ecosystem which perfectly aligns lending and investment actions to idealised government environmental and social policies which support a net zero economy. Once a final vision is articulated, the roadmap provides routes and signposts to arrive at such a destination. This first iteration of a just transition finance roadmap for South Africa, is an initial attempt to understand the nature of the challenge of just transition finance in South Africa, what a system level change to the financial eco system could look like and an action agenda for the next four years to begin moving towards such a vision
Toward a contribution to a just transition finance roadmap in South Africa - Sandy Lowitt (TIPS)
This working paper begins the process of framing a just transition narrative in the context of the South African financial system.
Views from an Emerging Market: Characteristics of South African Just Transition projects and the challenges they raise for the local and international financial eco system - Sandy Lowitt (TIPS)
This paper briefly describes the project research completed and then focuses on the financing characteristics that high just transition ambition projects exhibit.
POLICY BRIEF
Toward a Just Transition Finance Roadmap for South Africa Action Agenda - Sandy Lowitt (TIPS)
This policy brief focuses on the action agenda of the first iteration of a just transition finance roadmap for South Africa. The policy brief considers possible actions and activities in terms of: public finance measures, policy and regulation; financial instruments; institutions and disclosure, monitoring and evaluation. A cross-cutting theme across these areas is the need for the financial ecosystem to begin experimenting so as to learn by doing. Creating an evidence base is crucial to support forthcoming policy discussions
PRESENTATION
Understanding the demands a new financial eco system will need to meet - Sandy Lowitt (TIPS)
Roadmap progress report - presentation.
EXPERT PAPERS
These expert think pieces were commissioned to support and inform the broader research and thinking of the drafting of a first iteration of a contribution to a just transition finance roadmap for South Africa. The papers form part of the UK PACT funding.
Initial framework of social indicators for investments in a Just Transition - Synergy
TIPS Just Transition Finance Roadmap Workstream: Communication, awareness & outreach - Nicole Martens (Martens Impact Advisory)
Insights for South Africa's Just transition Finance Roadmap: Nexus of project needs and financing response - Chantal Naidoo (Rabia Transitions Initiative)
Scaling the Just Transition for community-based and community-placed projects - Fumani Mthembi (Knowledge Pele)
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH
Finance and the Just Transition - Sandy Lowitt (TIPS)
This working paper, commissioned by Presidential Climate Commission, is part of a series that will provide an evidence-based foundation for a new Framework for a Just Transition.
WEBINAR
The Just Transition - Insights into the financial roadmap
Presentations
Insights for South africa's Just transition Finance Roadmap: Nexus of Project Needs and Financing Response - (Chantal Naidoo, Rabia Transitions Initiative)
Scaling Community JT Projects Towards a Just Transition (Fumani Mthembi, Knowledge Pele)
Media
Press release: Financing the Just Transition puts a spotlight on financial institutions
Article: Ramaphosa to chair inter-Ministerial committee to oversee R131bn just transition offer (Terence Creamer, Engineering News 25 November 2021)
Article: Just Transition: SA's battle for green power accreditation (Thuletho Zwane, City Press 28 November 2021)
SA-EU JUST TRANSITION FINANCING ROADMAP: TECHNICAL PEER-TO-PEER COUNTERPART KNOWLEDGE SHARING - A SERIES OF THREE WEBINARS
Funding for webinar series by GIZ, EU, and GME
WEBINAR ONE
The role of DFIs (Development Finance Institutions) in deploying financing to Just Transition projects
WEBINAR TWO
Mobilising institutional investor flows to finance Just Transition activities
WEBINAR THREE
The challenges facing commercial and investment banks in funding a Just Transition