Statement delivered by Minister Barbara Creecy during the High-level Roundtable on Just Transition at the UNFCCC COP28 in Dubai, UAE
Excellencies,
I would like to start by thanking Professor Robins and Dr Shehabi for their excellent framing presentations, which talk to our experience.
Let me indicate that the South African government has developed the Implementation Plan for the country’s Just Energy Transition.
This plan focuses on areas critical to a just transition, including investment in electricity infrastructure, new energy vehicles, green hydrogen, skills development, municipal electricity distribution, and interventions directed at communities most affected.
Our Just Energy Transition initiative will enable South Africa to take targeted strides towards meeting its decarbonisation commitments in a manner that delivers just outcomes for those affected by the energy transition and that contributes to inclusive economic growth, energy security, and employment.
Our national experience has strong parallels with other developing countries, and we face similar challenges and barriers in accessing at-scale and appropriate forms of finance that do not compound our debt.
This brings me to the question on how the JT work program can assist all of us.
The first issue is that we need to send a clear message to the financial systems. The current global financial system is not designed to respond appropriately and developing countries cannot access the scale and quality of finance required to support their Just Transition Journeys and meet their Nationally Determined Commitments.
The second message should be that the finance flows in support of pathways towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development needs to reflect the commitments and principles of the Convention, including equity and CBDR.
The third message should be that technology transfer and skills development is another key enabler of just transitions. Access to climate change adaptation and mitigation technologies should not be commercially driven, but rather seen as a global public good.
The fourth message is acknowledging a reality that the nexus between trade and climate change can no longer be ignored and discussed only at side events at the UNFCCC. 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.
In conclusion, let me say COP28 presents an opportunity to take forward the Sharm el-Sheikh vision by adopting a bold decision on the Just Transition Pathways work programme where we can discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with the transition and support developing countries.
We see this as one of the main outcomes of the COP and as a key contribution towards achieving more equitable and sustainable societies, within a more just world.
I thank you.
