Youth statement urges the South African Just Transition to include them as well. Image: SAIIA
(The Post News)- With South Africa continuously shifting towards a low-carbon economy, the youth across South Africa are calling for increased involvement in the Just Energy Transition (JET), highlighting the critical role they play in securing a sustainable future.
With the recent National Youth Statement compiled at the Local Conference of Youth South Africa in August 2024, referencing the implementation Plan 2023-2027 had criticized the government for not adequately centering their voices in the process, apart from being most vulnerable to climate change.
The young people have argued that they will be the most affected by the ongoing climate crisis in the “Youth Statement”, having reference from the IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report states the youth more specifically the marginalized communities will face disproportionate impacts from climate change.
Apart from the matter, the implementation plan of the JET only mentioned the youth 17 times, with little emphasis on their role in shaping the transition. The statement declares they cannot afford to be sidelined in a process which will determine their futures. The statement had also mentioned on the lingering impacts of apartheid-era spatial planning which continue to aggravate injustices posed to the environment.
Under the apartheid era, black and brown communities were systematically relocated to areas with industries heavily polluted, which have resulted in poor living conditions and health risks. It has been found that these areas are still suffering from inadequate infrastructure, insufficient waste management, and poor access to clean water, which made the young people to highlight the need for the Just Transition to address the historical inequalities. The Youth Statement says the Just Transition must focus on restorative justice, ensuring that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.
The Youth Statement took note that young people in many communities face dire socio-economic conditions which makes it difficult to engage with climate issues meaningfully. Additionally, there is a lack of awareness around climate change in low-income communities, with several taking it as an issue for the affluent, leading to low participation in climate-related initiatives.
The youth urges the state to establish synergy between the JET Implementation Plan and the Just Transition Framework, ensuring distributive, restorative and procedural justice and further calls for comprehensive social protection measures to support communities affected by the transition, specifically those reliant on industries like coal.
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