Several major nonprofit organisations have pledged their support for South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP) for 2023 to 2027.

South Africa has committed to reducing its greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions by 2030, subject to appropriate financial support and premised on enabling a just transition for affected communities and regions.

Achieving a pathway toward low GHG emissions and climate-resilient development – as envisaged in the Paris Agreement – requires a just transition that acknowledges the effects on lives and livelihoods, and contributes to eradicating poverty, and advancing the development of developing countries. 

South Africa’s JET-IP was drawn up to catalyse the country’s efforts, which is also supported by financing through the Just Energy Transition Partnership forged between South Africa and the International Partner Group – which comprises France, Germany, the UK, the US, and the European Union – at COP26, held in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2021. 

Collectively, the African Climate Foundation, European Climate Foundation, Open Society Foundation, Bezos Earth Fund, Ford Foundation, Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Global Alliance for People and Planet, Quadrature Climate Foundation, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Growald Climate Fund, Rockefeller Foundation, ClimateWorks Foundation, IKEA Foundation and Yellowwoods Social Investments have all expressed their support for South Africa’s JET-IP.

The collective issued a statement on November 11, detailing its support.

“We acknowledge the efforts of the government to shift towards a low-GHG and more climate-resilient energy system in a just and inclusive manner at a very challenging time.

“We welcome the progress made in 2022 on the development of a JET-IP and its release by the government of South Africa on November 4.

“We encourage the South African government to continue a process of dynamic engagements with all social partners, including affected communities, civil society, labour movements and the financial sector (local and international) in the ongoing development focus and implementation of the JET-IP.

“We encourage South Africa to prioritise and accelerate implementation of its plans to build the foundations for sustained transition towards 2030 and beyond.

“We will explore ways to support the implementation of South Africa’s plans, such as strengthening the implementation capacity and social investment related to the just component of the transition and considering focused programmes, including at community and sub-national level, to support South Africa in achieving its JET and broader climate response objectives.”