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Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Barbara Creecy has called for universal access to climate change mitigation technologies as a global good rather than a profit-making exercise.
Creecy was addressing a high-level round table on Just Energy Transition at COP28 in Dubai on Sunday. She said that technology transfer and skills development were other key enablers of just transitions.
Creecy added that the South African government had developed the implementation plan for the country’s Just Energy Transition, which entailed investment in electricity infrastructure, new energy vehicles, green hydrogen, skills development, municipal electricity distribution and interventions directed at the most affected communities.
The transition, she said, would enable the country to take targeted strides towards meeting its decarbonisation commitments in a manner that delivered just outcomes for those affected by the energy transition. It would also contribute to inclusive economic growth, energy security and employment, she said.
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Creecy also stated that the Just Energy Transition could assist and benefit everyone only if a few issues could be ironed out. “Access to climate change adaptation and mitigation technologies,” Creecy said, “should not be commercially driven but rather seen as a global public good.”
She mentioned that a clear message needed to be sent out to the financial sector to give support to developing countries, adding:
Creecy said that finance flows directed to supporting pathways towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development needed to reflect the commitments and principles of the convention, including equity and CBDR (common but differentiated responsibilities as per principles of international law).
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“The fourth message is acknowledging the reality that the nexus between trade and climate change can no longer be ignored and discussed only at side events at the UNFCCC (United Nations Climate Change Conference). Trade undeniably exacerbates climate change and equally true is that climate change impacts trade. Increasing the costs of trade for developing countries could affect sustainable development trajectories, as well as have adverse second-round effects, leaving most of us behind,” Creecy said.
Creecy added that South Africa’s national experience had strong parallels with other developing countries. “We face similar challenges and barriers in accessing at-scale and appropriate forms of finance that do not compound our debt,” she said.
Climate change could widen gender gap
The minister also pointed out that conversations about just transitions ought to consider a comprehensive shift involving all facets of society and the economy, aligning with sustainable development and the entitlement to development to tackle issues including poverty, inequality and joblessness.
She said:
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She said that the concept of just transition in this context meant that the rural farming communities of largely women would need to be assisted in transforming from unsustainable production, consumption and land use patterns towards climate resilient agricultural practices.
“The South African Just Transition Framework underscores that combatting climate change is not only an environmental imperative, but an economic one as well. In many parts of South Africa, women are involved in informal economic opportunities and many are household heads. There is a very high proportion of single-headed households in South Africa,” Creecy said.
