Equity and Just Transition Commitments in South Africa

Led by SouthSouthNorth in collaboration with the Net Zero Tracker, this report examines 50 of the largest public and private sector entities in South Africa, including national and regional governments, large cities, and major domestic-based and multinational companies. It analyses how these entities plan to integrate equity and just transition principles into climate mitigation strategies, including net zero targets.

SSN conducted this analysis to gauge progress on just transition efforts in South Africa while simultaneously enhancing the Net Zero Tracker's ability to assess governments and companies on:

1. ‘Fair share’ responsibility for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, based on current and historical emissions.
2. Intentions of implementing a just and equitable transition that supports communities, workers or vulnerable groups under their jurisdictions.

The South African Context

South Africa stands at a crossroads in its climate journey. With a coal-dependent energy sector underpinning its economy, the nation faces a delicate balancing act between achieving economic stability and meeting its decarbonisation goals. Robust tracking and enhanced transparency of net zero commitments at national and subnational levels are essential to raise ambition and attract investment for a sustainable transition. Equity lies at the heart of credible climate strategies, both in South Africa and globally. A Just Transition ensures that the move to a low-carbon economy is inclusive and fair, addressing the needs of the most vulnerable communities affected by socio-economic shifts.

Why This Matters

South Africa’s transition to a low-carbon economy is not only a local imperative but a global benchmark for addressing the complex interplay of climate action, socio-economic stability, and equity. This paper offers a roadmap for stakeholders to align climate strategies with the principles of a Just Transition, ensuring that no one is left behind in the race to net zero.

Public sector entities assessed

Private sector entities assessed

Report findings

• Disparities in climate progress are evident, as climate targets vary across South African provinces, cities, and at the national level, with significant progress in some areas and slower adoption in others.

• City leadership is a key driver, with urban centres like Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, and Pretoria are leading climate action through ambitious net zero targets and comprehensive just transition measures, often surpassing provincial frameworks.

• One-directional influence of provincial strategies is observed, as provincial climate strategies exert a positive influence on city-level policies, limiting the potential for integrated action. The Western Cape serves as a notable example, where the province’s comprehensive net zero strategy has significantly shaped Cape Town’s ambitious climate policies, enabling alignment with key decarbonisation milestones for 2030, 2040, and 2050. However, this influence appears constrained to more affluent regions.

• Wealth as a driver of climate ambition is evident, with more affluent provinces and cities formulating more ambitious climate strategies and just transition measures, while less affluent regions lag behind.

• Private sector commitments to a just transition are inconsistent across sectors, with some sectors exhibiting strong engagement while others lag.

Report recommendations

1. Enhance government coordination between city, provincial, and national climate strategies through formal intergovernmental committees, leveraging the Climate Change Act (2024) for national oversight and alignment.
2. Support less affluent regions by providing targeted financial and technical assistance, including capacity-building and resource mobilisation, as outlined in the Climate Change Act (2024).
3. Develop sector-specific strategies to encourage sectors with low engagement in just transition principles to create detailed climate action plans, guided by sector-specific guidelines and reporting mechanisms under the Climate Change Act (2024).
4. Improve private sector accountability by incentivising multinational companies to adopt detailed just transition commitments with enhanced corporate reporting and transparency in line with the Climate Change Act (2024).
5. Ensure transparent and robust targets by establishing clear climate targets, including separate emissions reduction and removal targets, and integrating scope 3 emissions into overall strategies to enhance accountability.