A Gender Just Report Climate Transition: case studies from South Africa

The report examines the gendered impacts of climate change and environmental degradation in South Africa, focusing on air pollution, water access, agroecology, and energy poverty. Through case studies, it highlights how women-led initiatives—such as legal challenges against air pollution in the Highveld, agroecology gardens in Burundi, solar energy projects in Johannesburg, and waste management in Durban—address systemic inequalities and build community resilience. It argues that a Just Transition must integrate an intersectional gender perspective to be effective.

• Women and girls in South Africa are disproportionately affected by indoor air pollution due to traditional gender roles that assign them responsibility for household chores like cooking, often using firewood.
• In the Highveld region, women provided critical evidence in the "Deadly Air" court case, which resulted in a March 18, 2022, judgement ordering the Minister of Forestry and Fisheries and Environmental Affairs to enforce regulations for the Highveld Priority Area Air Quality Management Plan.
• Women in the Burundi informal settlement established a women-led agroecology garden that improved food security and created economic opportunities, eventually attracting men to the project after demonstrating its success.
• The Sustainable Energy Livelihood Project (SELP) in Johannesburg empowered women with technical skills to install and maintain solar home systems and biogas digesters, facilitating a transition toward green jobs.
• Women-led environmental initiatives, such as Waste for Change in Durban and the Khuthala Women's Movement in Wesselton, provide essential income and green jobs for unemployed women where government support has been lacking.
• Mining operations in the North West province have caused severe health and social issues for women in Maditlokwe, including respiratory illnesses, miscarriages, and the destruction of homes and graves.

APA

Modise, K., Ndlovu, S., Moodley, Y., Phomane, M., Gumede, T., Lado, P., Plaatjies, A. H., Mdunyelwa, A., Moussouris, M., Desatnik, M. S., Blomgren, S., & Runnerstam, K. (2024). A Gender Just Report Climate Transition: case studies from South Africa. Centre for Environmental Rights. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/A-Gender-Just-Climate-Transition-case-studies-from-South-Africa-UPDATED.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Modise, Ketshepaone, Sibongile Ndlovu, Yegeshni Moodley, Mafoko Phomane, Thobeka Gumede, Paul Lado, Anne Hanase Plaatjies, et al. A Gender Just Report Climate Transition: case studies from South Africa. Centre for Environmental Rights, 2024. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/A-Gender-Just-Climate-Transition-case-studies-from-South-Africa-UPDATED.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

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BibTeX

@techreport{modise2024gender, author = {Modise, Ketshepaone and Ndlovu, Sibongile and Moodley, Yegeshni and Phomane, Mafoko and Gumede, Thobeka and Lado, Paul and Plaatjies, Anne Hanase and Mdunyelwa, Aoiwe and Moussouris, Mandy and Desatnik, Marie Stjerquist and Blomgren, Sanna and Runnerstam, Karolina}, title = {{A Gender Just Report Climate Transition: case studies from South Africa}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2024}, month = mar, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/A-Gender-Just-Climate-Transition-case-studies-from-South-Africa-UPDATED.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }