Global Markers in South Africa's Just Energy Transition

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the intersection of global renewable energy goals and South Africa's socio-economic challenges, arguing that a 'Just Energy Transition' requires radical socio-economic transformation, energy democracy, and decentralized governance.

• A 'Just Energy Transition' in South Africa requires a radical socio-economic transformation to achieve deep decarbonisation, social mitigation, and inclusive upstream industrialisation. This involves 'energy democracy,' which entails reconfiguring the ownership of the sustainable energy system to give major roles to community-owned institutions, such as energy cooperatives, and publicly owned utilities.
• The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (REIPPPP) is identified as a transformative force that promotes industrialisation led by renewable energy, providing paths for economic progress despite associated challenges.
• The report advocates for decentralized energy governance driven by sectors, communities, and individual choices rather than solely by central institutions. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for South Africa to take a leadership role in regional partnerships to align the Southern African energy landscape with sustainable and equitable developmental goals.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2023). Global Markers in South Africa's Just Energy Transition. https://saiia.org.za/research/global-markers-in-south-africas-just-energy-transition/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Global Markers in South Africa's Just Energy Transition. 2023. https://saiia.org.za/research/global-markers-in-south-africas-just-energy-transition/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Global Markers in South Africa's Just Energy Transition |date=6 December 2023 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/global-markers-in-south-africas-just-energy-transition/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2023global, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Global Markers in South Africa's Just Energy Transition}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2023}, month = dec, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/global-markers-in-south-africas-just-energy-transition/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }