SA’s reliance on coal remains major hurdle to ‘just transition’

Abstract

South Africa will go to COP26 in November with new targets for reducing its emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. But it is going to be very difficult to achieve these goals – even as they are criticised by environmental groups for being inadequate. A ‘just transition’ to a zero-carbon world is the broadly accepted aim: but as MARTIN NICOL makes clear, its elusiveness is right up there with unemployment, poverty, corruption, inequality and gender-based violence.